Singapore’s policy responses to ageing, inequality and poverty
Mukul G. Asher 1 and Amarendu Nandy 1
Abstract Singapore represents an instructive case study in responding to rapid ageing, growing inequalities, and significant relative poverty. Unlike other high-income Asian countries, it has relied on single-tier mandatory savings to finance retirement, housing, and to a lesser extent, healthcare. To address the low fertility rates, it has permitted the share of the non-citizen population to triple between 1990 and 2005 to nearly 30 per cent. This is subtly altering Singapore’s socio-political dynamics, while assisting in sustaining growth and competitiveness. The paper argues that Singapore has the fiscal, institutional, and organizational capacities for a modern multi-tier social security system. Singapore is, however, determined to continue with current inadequate and inequitable arrangements, requiring individuals and their families to bear disproportionate risks in financing retirement, healthcare, and short-term income support. This reflects conscious policy choices arising from a Darwinist vision of society, and the need for socio-political control.
Interesting paper to look at.
This link provides a ppt presentation of the paper:
www.econ.hit-u.ac.jp/~kokyo/sympo-feb07/paper/asher-Tokyo.pdf
The entire paper (20 pages) can be found here
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119391592/abstract
If you have no access, but wish to obtain a copy, please email me here
I cannot post the full copy up here for copyright reasons.
[...] in Paradise. Growing Old In Singapore – Mathia Lee: Singapore’s policy responses to ageing, inequality and poverty – Mathia Lee: Immigration doesn’t look like it solves our aging [...]
[...] here for the link to the original [...]
[...] here for the link to the original [...]