Singapore

Citizens, Family,Housing Economics

The Model Singaporean

• Fully committed to the Country• Highly educated• Tolerant• Highly productive and disciplined• Of any race• Thrifty• Gracious and polite

• “Be the best that you can be!”

Aspiration for the 5 C’s

• Cash• Credit Card• Condominium• Car• Career

• Are these aspirations different among young people here?

How to Create a National Identity

• Multi-ethnic country• People were originally immigrants from

China, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Europe with their own traditions– Lee Kwan Yew had special interest in elevating

the position of the Malays who had had lower status during the colonial period.

Each ethnic group was to value and keep his or her original ethnic identity and to learn the ethnic language.

Ethnic Groups

Your opinion counts!

• Should the new country be a melting pot (e.g. Americanization of immigrants here) or a puzzle put together of various pieces?

• Which makes more sense to you: the melting pot idea or the puzzle piece idea? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

The Singaporean Family

• Highly valued and strongly committed;a manifestation of Asian values

• Obligation to care for the elderly• Marriage of similarly intelligent and educated

people encouraged– Wanted brighter children– No guarantees that would happen– Lots of resistance from the people

• Government can’t legislate love!

Declining Birth Rate

• The birth rate of Singapore needs to be at 2.1 children in order for the population to replace itself.

• Singapore’s birth rate is 1.4 and declining

• There is an increase in DINKS--double income no kids--families

To Increase the Birth Rate

• Incentives for larger families– Tax relief for parents– “Birth Bonus”--family allowance for the first

and fourth children deposited at birth by government

– Children’s Development Fund for 2nd and 3rd child

• Government will match parents ﾕ deposits annually, dollar for dollar, up to S$1,000 for the second child and S$2,000 for the third child. (S$=$.63US)

More Incentives

– Cheaper mortgages for large families

longer maternity leave (from 8 - 12 weeks)

– holiday entitlement for mothers– Decreased maid levy for large family

• Family has to pay a monthly levy of S$345 for a foreign maid.

Your Opinion

• What are the problems of a declining birthrate?

• Is it ok for the government to push its people to have more children when the birth rate is declining?

Economy of Singapore

• Successful free market economy in which the government plays a significant role– Stable prices– Transparent economic policies– Little corruption– Very high gross domestic product

• Major industries– Trade and export through the world’s busiest port– Refining of goods imported from neighboring countries

and reexported.– Electronics manufacturing; biotechnology and

development of chemicals are priorities

• Well educated and highly skilled work force.• Knowledge based economy• Significant spending for education and

technology– 4% national budget in America, 21% in Singapore

• Foreign investment provides tax base– Housing and wage incentives to encourage foreign

business to be set up in Singapore

Household Income

• In the year 2000• Income (S$) Percent of Population

– <$1000/month 12.6% – $1000-$1999 14%– $2000-$2999 14.7%– $3000-$3999 13.1%– $4000-$4999 10.3%– $5000-$5999 8.2%– $6000-$6999 6.2%– $7000-$7999 4.6%– $8000-$8999 3.5%– $9000-$9999 2.5%– >$10,000 10.3%

The Younger Generations

• Have never known poverty• Have never known corruption• Have never known a lack of safety• Have had their material needs met• Have had good housing options

• May not recognize the need to strive to keep the economy and government strong and corruption free.

Housing in Singapore

• After so much was destroyed during the Japanese invasion and not rebuilt for the people during colonialism, housing was a major problem for the government.

• People were living in squatter settlements.

Creation of the Housing Development Board

• The HDB was born in 1960 to address an acute housing shortage.

• Current population is 6,066 persons per square kilometer.

• Vision=“Affordable Homes, Vibrant Towns, Cohesive Communities.”

Goal of Home Ownership

• In what ways is home ownership preferable to home rental?

• HDB how ownership plan began in 1964 to encourage the people to have a stake in the nation.

• People in Singapore have compulsory savings accounts in the Central Provident Fund. They were allowed to use this money to buy their apartments.

HDB has constructed 972,840 apartments for people

• 84% of the population owns their own apartment

• HDB’s job is to– Plan, design and provide affordable housing– Provide an integrated living environment to

encourage social interaction and community development

– Have policies to promote nation building, family formation, mutual care and support and preserve community and kinship ties.

Creation of Communities

• HDB creates whole towns consisting of 5-7 neighborhoods

• There are transport systems to move the people from neighborhood to neighborhood

• Older neighborhoods are upgraded to keep pace with newer ones

Social Issues in Housing

• Quotas for each ethnic group in apartments requires mingling

• Creation of green and social areas for interaction between people

• 3 generational playgrounds– Play apparatus– Fitness apparatus– Apparatus designed for the elderly

In Order to Buy a Flat from HDB with Housing Assistance• Singapore citizen• >21 years old• >35 if single• Income limitation

– $3000mo for 3 room flat– $8000/mo for 4 room or bigger flat– $12,000/mo for extended family buying big flat

• Can’t own other residential property

Other Activities of HDB

• Upgrading existing apartments with 93% subsidy to owners

• Elevator upgrading program to give all residents access on their floor

• Property management of whole neighborhoods

• Creation of prefabricated bathroom construction for new dwellings and upgrading.

Housing Pragmatics

• Apartment sizes– Studio 4 room– 1 room 5 room– 2 room executive– 3 room

• Apartment prices--average– 3 room=S$81,000– 4 room=S$165,000– 5 room=S$183,000

• Price depends on location and age of the flat