My humble response to Prof Tommy Koh's views on EU.
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At the outset, I must declare have great admiration for Prof Tommy Koh and believe in his compassion for the mainstream of spore and his love for the country. However, I also feel obligated to give my view what the more important problem is. My language might be more direct and less diplomatic and I do not want to hurt any one. My responses are in red:
IT IS a sad reflection on human nature that when a region is faced with a crisis, it is o􀄞en treated
with disdain instead of sympathy. I recall that during the Asian financial crisis of 1997�1998, some
of our European and American friends were extremely unkind and predicted that Asia would
suffer a lost decade.This is just being in the real world with real human nature especially the revengeful nature. Many asians have felt bullied during colonisation and during the asian crisis lecture. Same as the chinese-educated sporeans and those who got put away by the pap are now seeking revenge.
We must not do the same to Europe which has been faced with a serious financial and economic
crisis since 2008. I have, therefore, decided to swim against the tide of anti�Europe sentiments.
I wish to highlight the fact that not all the countries of Europe are in crisis. Last year, of the 27
European Union countries, only three had a negative growth rate. In the 2010�2011 Global
Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum, six EU countries were ranked among the
10 most competitive countries.Global competitiveness is I believed ranked by businesses(MNCs) and EU has a good share of international companies. I am just saying we should bear this in mind. Global competitiveness is about how attractive to businesses which is not all about govts. Govts is more than just business friendly
I wish to make the case that Singapore has much to learn from the successful countries of Europe.
I will focus on four European countries whose populations are below 10 million – namely,
Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.Sure we should learn the right lessions from any one.
LESSON NO. 1
Inclusive growth
THE citizens of the world aspire to live in fair societies. One important aspect of fairness is the
equitable distribution of income and wealth. This is the moral force behind the economic doctrine
of inclusive growth. As a result of globalisation, technological change and domestic policies, many
countries have become extremely unequalTrue govts and their peoples must strive for fairness and justice. However, in reality, politics are most greatly influenced by the top 0.5% because money comes ultimately from these top 0.5% and for this reason there is no real democracy in any country before and now and in the future. With control coming from the top 0.5%, it is silly to think real fairness and justice to be achievable if these top 0.5% do not believe in the same lattitude of fairness and justice. The rich and poor divide has been around since civilisation and now with printing of money by the private sectors in obscene amount thru financial engg, the divide got worse. Globalisation only spread the top 0.5% influence to more countries and not so much the magnitude.
The Occupy Wall Street movement is a reflection of the American people’s sentiments against a
growth model which over�rewards the top 1 per cent and under�rewards the remaining 99 per
cent.This movement is wrong in saying top 1% - actually top 0.5% because those earning more than US$500k then is really powerful The inequality in Singapore, as measured by the Gini coefficient, is even greater than that in
America. Too great a gap between rich and poor undermines solidarity and social cohesion. It
poses a threat to our harmony and our sense of nationhood.True Actually, It is great shame for US to have such high Gini coefft because US is a big country that does not have to rely on export and can maintain even more income distribution like EU countries. I feel US coeff could be higher if they have included the low wage of the illegal latino workers from neighbouring countries. For better solidarity and social cohesion, the bottom 20% must also have better attitude and not parasitic - it takes 2 to clap. Just a few days ago, Australia will also be allow 12k people from the PNG, pacific islands to work as fruit and vegetable pickers.
Let us compare Singapore, on the one hand, and Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden on the
other. Their per capita incomes in 2010 were as follows:
Singapore: S$59,813
Denmark: S$69,249(€42,500)
Finland: S$54,584 (€33,500)
Norway: S$105,096 (€64,500)Spore could achieve this per capita income only thru attracting many cos to operate here and lift external economy to 4 times of domestic economy in good times. These 4 countries enjoy the benefits of EU without the need to resort to use this strategy.
Sweden: S$60,613 (€37,200)
The Gini coefficient is used universally as a summary measure of equality. It is based
upon the difference between the incomes of the top 20 per cent and the bo􀄴om 20 per cent. ZeroGini coefficient should measure the difference btwn the incomes of top 0.5% and the bottom 20%. Measuring the difference between top 20 and bottom 20 conceals the real problem of the real drivers of politics and economy of the top 0.5%. Ceo could take only 2 days to make a graduate make $2m in his whole life career. Ceos incomes could keep going up simply by just keeping outsourcing to low cost countries - does not speak of much talent at all. Top 20% is only the equivalent of senior mgrs.
represents total income equality and one represents total inequality. What are the Gini
coefficients of the five countries? In 2010, they were as follows:
Singapore: 0.46
Denmark: 0.27
Finland: 0.25
Norway: 0.24
Sweden: 0.24
In order to get a be􀄴er sense of the wages earned in the five countries by the bo􀄴om 20�30 per
cent of the working population, I have chosen the cleaner and the bus driver. The average
monthly wages of the cleaner and bus driver in the five countries are as follows:
Singapore
Cleaner S$800 Bus driver S$1,800What is important to note is that these 2 occupations are held mainly by foreigners because slightly more than 1 in every 5 (going to 1 in 4) are grads
Denmark
Cleaner S$5,502 Bus driver S$6,193I know Prof Koh probably think it is not just to bring in citizenship for the same job in the same country - same legal rights
Finland
Cleaner S$2,085 Bus driver S$3,910The large difference is typical of non export countries who does not need to bring in cheap labour. their cos just produce them in low cost countries if necessary.
Norway
Cleaner S$5,470 Bus driver S$6,260
Sweden
Cleaner S$3,667 Bus driver S$4,480
A few observations are in order.
First, Singapore’s per capita income is roughly similar to those of Denmark, Finland and Sweden.Prof Koh forgets to point out that these 4 countries are enjoying the benefits of being under EU whereas Spore cannot successfully enjoy under the Msia and Indonesia umbrella. Spore achieves similar income thru having an external economy 4 times its internal economy.
Second, the four Nordic countries are much more equitable than Singapore. This is reflected in
their Gini coefficients as well as in the average monthly wages earned by the cleaner and the bus
What Singapore can learn from Europe By Tommy Koh « SG Hard Truth http://sghardtruth.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/what-singapore-can-learn...
2 of 6 19/05/2012 7:03 PM
driver.Within these 4 nordic countries they are serving their own people and people of EU mainly and so much less pressure to adopt low cost centres. If need be, their cos could operate in the low cost countries. Singapore do not have mncs and at most regional cos, the rest are mncs coming to spore to exploit free talent and capital flow under reasonable cost environment.
Third, some Nordic countries have a minimum wage and some, such as Denmark, do not. The
minimum wage is, therefore, a means but not the only means to ensure that workers earn a living
wage.Top 0.5% can easily overcome this rule easily if they want. Maintain thing for spore is also now whether those professionals and above willing to forgo a large part of their salaries to top up the bottom 20% - somebody has to pay or at least share to pay because the top 0.5% are definitely unwilling to bear all. Govt only has some investment income and most income comes from taxes - so spore govt could only top up some for the bottom 20%. I shall leave it to you to think which is possible. If it is not possible why need to discuss whether this is fair or not?
Fourth, the argument that the only way to raise the wages of our low�wage workers is through
productivity increase is not persuasive. I would like to know, for example, how the two women
who clean my office can be more productive than they already are in order to deserve higher
wages? I would like to know how the Singapore bus driver can be more productive so that his
income will approximate those of his Nordic counterparts?The govt was just echoing what the top 0.5% are asking in return for pay increase and certainly it is true that the large difference in pay cannot be make up by productivity increases. Obviously in the corporate world, it is up to the top 0.5% to say whether they want to pay how much, to recruit you or whether you are qualified or not. Whereas, the top 0.5% have the right to decide how much to pay themselves because their pay are decided by fellow top 0.5% who takes pride in saying talents are scarce and they put themselves as talents which are not obviously always the case - they have the money their words become rules and facts.
The truth is that we pay these workers such low wages not primarily because their productivity is
inherently low, but largely because they are competing against an unlimited supply of cheap
foreign workers. Because cheap workers are so plentiful, they tend to be employedTrue, but all emerging mkts in order to move up must offer cheap cost of operations first and especially spore is so small with no hinterland.
unproductively. In the Nordic countries, unskilled workers are relatively scarce and thus deployed
more productively, with higher skills, mechanisation, and be􀄴er organisation.The vast difference in pay cannot be made up by upgrading or automation - it has to come from the hearts of the top 0.5% and whether the top 20% want to share the burden or not.
What is the solution? The solution is for the State to reduce the supply of cheap foreign workers
or introduce a minimum wage or to target specific industries, such as the hospitality industry, for
wage enhancement.As explained above, these 2 solutions are not possible. One, 200k maids could be reduced to only families of handicaps/aged parents but these people would have to pay huge cost - who is going to help them. The 1million foreign labours consist of construction workers and cleaners are more difficult. OK we can stop construction since we are quite built up. But for cleaners impossible because sporeans are dirty irresponsible habits compared to western people. Western countries they do not have much cleaners and so few bins and yet so clean and tidy. Asians are bad in this respect - so who can change this behaviour and culture? Not possible. For those manual labours in ship building etc ok they can shift overseas causing sporeans in supervisory and managerial positions jobless. No need for plumbers and electricians and mechanics as people have to DIY - those cannot pay the high price - plausible.
LESSON NO. 2
Higher fertility
ONE of our challenges is our low fertility rate. For a country’s population to remain stable, it
needs a total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.14. Singapore’s current TFR is 1.2. Our population experts tell
us that our population will begin to shrink by 2025. They have, therefore, argued that, to make up
the deficit, we need to import foreigners to add to our population.
Importing foreigners is the second best solution. The best solution is to raise our TFR. On this
point, our policymakers seem to have run out of ideas. The various incentive schemes, such as
baby bonus, do not seem to be productive. It is time to look at our four European countries for
inspiration. Their 2010 TFRs were as follows:
Denmark: 1.87
Finland: 1.87
Norway: 1.95
Sweden: 1.98As long as they are not at displacement level, it only says they take longer time to face the problem in spite of putting in so huge cost into it.
The four Nordic countries have TFRs which are close to the replacement level. This achievement
seems extraordinary. They do not have the benefit of maids. There are over 200,000 foreign
domestic workers in Singapore. They also do not have grandparents who help with child�rearing.
At the same time, they have very high participation of women in their workforces. In terms of
availability of time and help for child�rearing, common sense would suggest that the TFR in
Singapore should be higher than those in the Nordic countries. How do we explain this paradox?It is not so much about availability of time and help for child-rearing as Prof Koh has pointed out. I feel the most critical point is sporeans have experienced the large familly burden and loss of freedom to enjoying burden free small families thru nation-wide birth control whereas none of the advanced countries experience that. It is natural for them to have big families in general because they have not gone thru nation-wide popn control. They tend to love animals and hence children beside some religious support(catholicism). When a nation(not just a few or some or many) experience the impact of good live it is very difficullt to go back to more disciplined life like less travelling.
Our population experts cannot explain this paradox. I will venture a hypothesis. I believe that the
high TFR in the Nordic countries could be due to four factors: the availability of convenient,
affordable and good childcare; good work�life balance; an excellent and relatively stress�free
education system; and the relative absence of male chauvinism.These 4 factors are by no means easy for spore to transit to and yet their results still fall short of replacement level.
Let me say a few words on each of the four factors.
First, one of the missing links in Singapore is the inadequate supply of conveniently located, good
quality and affordable childcare for infants and young children.To be able to afford this, much higher pay or govt must foot the bills. In Perth, a migrant accountant could only afford to send their kids for 3 days a week to childcare - I learn personally.
Second, the work�life balance in Singapore, especially for many young professionals such as
lawyers, architects and teachers, is poor. Singaporeans work one of the longest hours in the
developed world. They have li􀄴le energy for life other than work and thus li􀄴le time forNot all professionals are busy and those who are free are not having babies too
meaningful family life.
The Government and our employers should reflect on whether the existing climate of
encouraging or requiring our young professionals to work late into the night is necessary or
desirable.Please note it is still the top 0.5%'s control. Sometimes the employees are to be blamed because they want to excel.
Third, sociologists like Paulin Straughan have pointed out that Singapore’s highly competitive andThis is purely sociologists' imagination. I feel it is the parents' decision not really the education system. In Perth, those sporeans migrated because they want to give their children a stress free education and work put their children in costly private schools because they want their children to learn more what the public schools do not teach. In Kumon Perth, those who send their kids for enrichment classes are all mainly asians. Actually, spore schools std are now quite unform and provide eca and volunteering to students making competition fairer to the poorer students. Just imagine if the schools do not provide this, those from middle income families and above would be sending their kids to enrichment courses and tuition etc - making the competition less equal. If the students are like western countries and yet they cannot have boy-girl relationships at young age then most of the childhood time would be spent on internet - as it is now asian kids spend most time on computer than western kids - I believe is because they believe in boy-girl socialisation on top of sports.
stressful education system is also a deterrent to working parents having more children. The
Nordic countries, on the other hand, are famous for their high quality, egalitarian education
which fulfils the children’s aspiration for a happy childhood. It is a paradox that Finland, with no
streaming, no elite schools and no private tuition industry, is ranked as having the world’s best
education system.I always think because Finland is a cold country(less sunshine) with nothing much to do and so have least distractions than spore kids. In any case, spore education achieve less variability in std in the world but are not that stellar on the top end. Private tuition cannot raise std because they simplify the students' learning experience and make them more lazy and have more time to play - I know professionals do not think this way but I know I am right about this. I see so many RJC and HC students in Perth (excellent O and
A) but cannot have the passion to beat caucasions where whites only face one national exam in year 12 because they want to go univ. RJC and HC students learn more than A-Lvll but do not appear the head start eventually make any difference to the degree results because they are less passionate in learning. Perhaps in local univers, the same thing happens and jealousy over foreign students become worse.
Fourth, it is significant that the developed countries with low TFRs include Japan, Korea, Italy
and Spain, which have a high degree of male chauvinism. Is it possible that Singapore too has a
high degree of male chauvinism? The women of Singapore are o􀄞en blamed for not marrying and
having children. Perhaps, the main problem is not our women but our men. Perhaps, what we
also need is a mindset change on the part of our men towards the status and role of our women
and the shared responsibilities of the husband and wife, and father and mother in domestic
chores and child�rearing.Of course, this male chauvinism is difficult to change - asian culture.
LESSON NO. 3
Embracing nature and sustainable development
SINGAPORE is probably Asia’s cleanest, greenest and most liveable city. Our air is healthy, our
water is potable and our land is wholesome. In addition, we enjoy good public health and food
safety. Visitors are astonished by the fact that, in spite of our high density, 47 per cent of our land
is covered in greenery. In view of this, the reader will ask what can we learn from the four Nordic
countries? I suggest three things.
First, people there love nature and their natural heritage. They seem to have an emotional, even a
spiritual, relationship with nature. They love their forests, lakes and 􀄦ords. In contrast, most
Singaporeans tend to have a more pragmatic relationship with nature. They apply a cost�benefit
analysis to the destruction of a natural heritage. Pragmatism is one of our virtues. We should,
however, be aware of the defects of our virtues. Not everything in life can be monetised.
Second, we can learn useful lessons from the way in which the Nordic countries have been able
to reconcile economic competitiveness with a deep commitment to sustainable development.
A􀄞er the 1992 Earth Summit, each of them has established a national commission to mainstream
sustainable development.
In the case of Finland, the Prime Minister chairs the National Commission on Sustainable
Development. The result is that there is a national consensus in each of those countries to
internalise the ethic of sustainable development into all aspects of life.
Third, at the microâ€�level, there are lessons in areas where Singapore has room for improvement –
for example, in energy efficiency, the use of solar energy, the recycling of waste, the use of
non�polluting buses, changing unsustainable pa􀄴erns of consumption and production, etc.
LESSON NO. 4
Heritage, culture and the arts
IN THE past two decades, inspired by the 1989 Ong Teng Cheong report and Mr George Yeo’s
leadership at the then Ministry of Information and the Arts, Singapore has undergone a paradigm
shi􀄞 in the areas of heritage, culture and the arts. The arts have blossomed. More and more
Singaporeans are interested in knowing their history and preserving their heritage. The trend is,
therefore, favourable. What can we learn from the Nordic countries?
First, we can learn the importance of giving all our children a good education in the arts. We have
made good progress in recent years. The opening of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
and the School of The Arts were important milestones.
We can strengthen arts education in our schools. We should consider starting courses in art
history and museum studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This will help in the
training of teachers, curators, dealers, collectors and museum administrators, all in short supply.
Second, we can emulate the achievements of the Nordic countries in respect of museums. They
have an impressive range of museums with strong collections. They have been able to harness the
benefit of public�private partnership. Their museum collections extend beyond their nations to
the cultures of the world.
For example, the David Collection in Copenhagen is one of the world’s best collections of Islamic
Art. The Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki has a very ambitious programming
agenda, covering Western as well as Asian and African art.
Third, because of their ancient Viking past and current strength in shipping and other maritime
industries, Denmark, Norway and Sweden have outstanding museums of maritime history.
Given the importance of maritime trade to Singapore’s past and present, it is puzzling that we do
not have a museum of maritime history. I hope one day the historic Clifford Pier, which now
houses a restaurant, will be the home of a world�class museum of maritime history. When that
time comes, we can look to the Nordic countries for inspiration.Embrace nature is good but arts are for the rich. I do not find myself a misfit in society just because I could not appreciate art or olympics. What is more important that the top 0.5% has a far more compassionate in not seeking breaking records of earnings because earnings are determined by them .
By Tommy Koh, For The Straits Times, May 19, 2012 -
Singapore's GDP per capita is comparable to Nordic countries, but the income levels are worlds apart.
So where has all the extra income gone?
Need to ask PAP where they are.
Sad But True.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8BRbM52gpc
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Equality can never be achieved with one party having totalitarian dominance over the governance of a country, because that party will seek to maximize it's own well being (like paying itself millions of dollars in salary).
-
At the outset, I must declare have great admiration for Prof Tommy Koh and believe in his compassion for the mainstream of spore and his love for the country. However, I also feel obligated to give my view what the more important problem is. My language might be more direct and less diplomatic and I do not want to hurt any one. My responses are in red:
IT IS a sad reflection on human nature that when a region is faced with a crisis, it is o􀄞en treated
with disdain instead of sympathy. I recall that during the Asian financial crisis of 1997�1998, some
of our European and American friends were extremely unkind and predicted that Asia would
suffer a lost decade.This is just being in the real world with real human nature especially the revengeful nature. Many asians have felt bullied during colonisation and during the asian crisis lecture. Same as the chinese-educated sporeans and those who got put away by the pap are now seeking revenge.
We must not do the same to Europe which has been faced with a serious financial and economic
crisis since 2008. I have, therefore, decided to swim against the tide of anti�Europe sentiments.
I wish to highlight the fact that not all the countries of Europe are in crisis. Last year, of the 27
European Union countries, only three had a negative growth rate. In the 2010�2011 Global
Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum, six EU countries were ranked among the
10 most competitive countries.Global competitiveness is I believed ranked by businesses(MNCs) and EU has a good share of international companies. I am just saying we should bear this in mind. Global competitiveness is about how attractive to businesses which is not all about govts. Govts is more than just business friendly
I wish to make the case that Singapore has much to learn from the successful countries of Europe.
I will focus on four European countries whose populations are below 10 million – namely,
Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.Sure we should learn the right lessions from any one.
LESSON NO. 1
Inclusive growth
THE citizens of the world aspire to live in fair societies. One important aspect of fairness is the
equitable distribution of income and wealth. This is the moral force behind the economic doctrine
of inclusive growth. As a result of globalisation, technological change and domestic policies, many
countries have become extremely unequalTrue govts and their peoples must strive for fairness and justice. However, in reality, politics are most greatly influenced by the top 0.5% because money comes ultimately from these top 0.5% and for this reason there is no real democracy in any country before and now and in the future. With control coming from the top 0.5%, it is silly to think real fairness and justice to be achievable if these top 0.5% do not believe in the same lattitude of fairness and justice. The rich and poor divide has been around since civilisation and now with printing of money by the private sectors in obscene amount thru financial engg, the divide got worse. Globalisation only spread the top 0.5% influence to more countries and not so much the magnitude.
The Occupy Wall Street movement is a reflection of the American people’s sentiments against a
growth model which over�rewards the top 1 per cent and under�rewards the remaining 99 per
cent.This movement is wrong in saying top 1% - actually top 0.5% because those earning more than US$500k then is really powerful The inequality in Singapore, as measured by the Gini coefficient, is even greater than that in
America. Too great a gap between rich and poor undermines solidarity and social cohesion. It
poses a threat to our harmony and our sense of nationhood.True Actually, It is great shame for US to have such high Gini coefft because US is a big country that does not have to rely on export and can maintain even more income distribution like EU countries. I feel US coeff could be higher if they have included the low wage of the illegal latino workers from neighbouring countries. For better solidarity and social cohesion, the bottom 20% must also have better attitude and not parasitic - it takes 2 to clap. Just a few days ago, Australia will also be allow 12k people from the PNG, pacific islands to work as fruit and vegetable pickers.
Let us compare Singapore, on the one hand, and Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden on the
other. Their per capita incomes in 2010 were as follows:
Singapore: S$59,813
Denmark: S$69,249(€42,500)
Finland: S$54,584 (€33,500)
Norway: S$105,096 (€64,500)Spore could achieve this per capita income only thru attracting many cos to operate here and lift external economy to 4 times of domestic economy in good times. These 4 countries enjoy the benefits of EU without the need to resort to use this strategy.
Sweden: S$60,613 (€37,200)
The Gini coefficient is used universally as a summary measure of equality. It is based
upon the difference between the incomes of the top 20 per cent and the bo􀄴om 20 per cent. ZeroGini coefficient should measure the difference btwn the incomes of top 0.5% and the bottom 20%. Measuring the difference between top 20 and bottom 20 conceals the real problem of the real drivers of politics and economy of the top 0.5%. Ceo could take only 2 days to make a graduate make $2m in his whole life career. Ceos incomes could keep going up simply by just keeping outsourcing to low cost countries - does not speak of much talent at all. Top 20% is only the equivalent of senior mgrs.
represents total income equality and one represents total inequality. What are the Gini
coefficients of the five countries? In 2010, they were as follows:
Singapore: 0.46
Denmark: 0.27
Finland: 0.25
Norway: 0.24
Sweden: 0.24
In order to get a be􀄴er sense of the wages earned in the five countries by the bo􀄴om 20�30 per
cent of the working population, I have chosen the cleaner and the bus driver. The average
monthly wages of the cleaner and bus driver in the five countries are as follows:
Singapore
Cleaner S$800 Bus driver S$1,800What is important to note is that these 2 occupations are held mainly by foreigners because slightly more than 1 in every 5 (going to 1 in 4) are grads
Denmark
Cleaner S$5,502 Bus driver S$6,193I know Prof Koh probably think it is not just to bring in citizenship for the same job in the same country - same legal rights. HK do not offer the same rights to the maids
Finland
Cleaner S$2,085 Bus driver S$3,910The large difference is typical of non export countries who does not need to bring in cheap labour. their cos just proThe large difference is typical of non export coduce them in low cost countries if necessary.
Norway
Cleaner S$5,470 Bus driver S$6,260
Sweden
Cleaner S$3,667 Bus driver S$4,480
A few observations are in order.
First, Singapore’s per capita income is roughly similar to those of Denmark, Finland and Sweden.Prof Koh forgets to point out that these 4 countries are enjoying the benefits of being under EU whereas Spore cannot successfully enjoy under the Msia and Indonesia umbrella. Spore achieves similar income thru having an external economy 4 times its internal economy.
Second, the four Nordic countries are much more equitable than Singapore. This is reflected in
their Gini coefficients as well as in the average monthly wages earned by the cleaner and the bus
driver.Within these 4 nordic countries they are serving their own people and people of EU mainly and so much less pressure to adopt low cost centres. If need be, their cos could operate in the low cost countries. Singapore do not have mncs and at most regional cos, the rest are mncs coming to spore to exploit free talent and capital flow under reasonable cost environment.
Third, some Nordic countries have a minimum wage and some, such as Denmark, do not. The
minimum wage is, therefore, a means but not the only means to ensure that workers earn a living
wage.Top 0.5% can easily overcome this rule easily if they want. Maintain thing for spore is also now whether those professionals and above willing to forgo a large part of their salaries to top up the bottom 20% - somebody has to pay or at least share to pay because the top 0.5% are definitely unwilling to bear all. Govt only has some investment income and most income comes from taxes - so spore govt could only top up some for the bottom 20%. I shall leave it to you to think which is possible. If it is not possible why need to discuss whether this is fair or not?
Fourth, the argument that the only way to raise the wages of our low�wage workers is through
productivity increase is not persuasive. I would like to know, for example, how the two women
who clean my office can be more productive than they already are in order to deserve higher
wages? I would like to know how the Singapore bus driver can be more productive so that his
income will approximate those of his Nordic counterparts?The govt was just echoing what the top 0.5% are asking in return for pay increase and certainly it is true that the large difference in pay cannot be make up by productivity increases. Obviously in the corporate world, it is up to the top 0.5% to say whether they want to pay how much, to recruit you or whether you are qualified or not. Whereas, the top 0.5% have the right to decide how much to pay themselves because their pay are decided by fellow top 0.5% who takes pride in saying talents are scarce and they put themselves as talents which are not obviously always the case - they have the money their words become rules and facts.
The truth is that we pay these workers such low wages not primarily because their productivity is
inherently low, but largely because they are competing against an unlimited supply of cheap
foreign workers. Because cheap workers are so plentiful, they tend to be employedTrue, but all emerging mkts in order to move up must offer cheap cost of operations first and especially spore is so small with no hinterland.
unproductively. In the Nordic countries, unskilled workers are relatively scarce and thus deployed
more productively, with higher skills, mechanisation, and be􀄴er organisation.The vast difference in pay cannot be made up by upgrading or automation - it has to come from the hearts of the top 0.5% and whether the top 20% want to share the burden or not.
What is the solution? The solution is for the State to reduce the supply of cheap foreign workers
or introduce a minimum wage or to target specific industries, such as the hospitality industry, for
wage enhancement.As explained above, these 2 solutions are not possible. One, 200k maids could be reduced to only families of handicaps/aged parents but these people would have to pay huge cost - who is going to help them. The 1million foreign labours consist of construction workers and cleaners are more difficult. OK we can stop construction since we are quite built up. But for cleaners impossible because sporeans have dirty irresponsible habits compared to western people. Western countries they do not have much cleaners and so few bins and yet so clean and tidy. Asians are bad in this respect - so who can change this behaviour and culture? Not possible. For those manual labours in ship building etc ok they can shift overseas causing sporeans in supervisory and managerial positions jobless. No need for plumbers and electricians and mechanics as people have to DIY - those cannot pay the high price - plausible.
LESSON NO. 2
Higher fertility
ONE of our challenges is our low fertility rate. For a country’s population to remain stable, it
needs a total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.14. Singapore’s current TFR is 1.2. Our population experts tell
us that our population will begin to shrink by 2025. They have, therefore, argued that, to make up
the deficit, we need to import foreigners to add to our population.
Importing foreigners is the second best solution. The best solution is to raise our TFR. On this
point, our policymakers seem to have run out of ideas. The various incentive schemes, such as
baby bonus, do not seem to be productive. It is time to look at our four European countries for
inspiration. Their 2010 TFRs were as follows:
Denmark: 1.87
Finland: 1.87
Norway: 1.95
Sweden: 1.98As long as they are not at displacement level, it only says they take longer time to face the problem in spite of putting in so huge cost into it.
The four Nordic countries have TFRs which are close to the replacement level. This achievement
seems extraordinary. They do not have the benefit of maids. There are over 200,000 foreign
domestic workers in Singapore. They also do not have grandparents who help with child�rearing.
At the same time, they have very high participation of women in their workforces. In terms of
availability of time and help for child�rearing, common sense would suggest that the TFR in
Singapore should be higher than those in the Nordic countries. How do we explain this paradox?It is not so much about availability of time and help for child-rearing as Prof Koh has pointed out. I feel the most critical point is sporeans have experienced the large familly burden and loss of freedom to enjoying burden free small families thru nation-wide birth control whereas none of the advanced countries experience that. It is natural for them to have big families in general because they have not gone thru nation-wide popn control. They tend to love animals and hence children beside some religious support(catholicism). When a nation(not just a few or some or many) experience the impact of good live it is very difficullt to go back to more disciplined life like less travelling.
Our population experts cannot explain this paradox. I will venture a hypothesis. I believe that the
high TFR in the Nordic countries could be due to four factors: the availability of convenient,
affordable and good childcare; good work�life balance; an excellent and relatively stress�free
education system; and the relative absence of male chauvinism.These 4 factors are by no means easy for spore to transit to and yet their results still fall short of replacement level.
Let me say a few words on each of the four factors.
First, one of the missing links in Singapore is the inadequate supply of conveniently located, good
quality and affordable childcare for infants and young children.To be able to afford this, much higher pay or govt must foot the bills. In Perth, a migrant accountant could only afford to send their kids for 3 days a week to childcare - I learn personally.
Second, the work�life balance in Singapore, especially for many young professionals such as
lawyers, architects and teachers, is poor. Singaporeans work one of the longest hours in the
developed world. They have li􀄴le energy for life other than work and thus li􀄴le time forNot all professionals are busy and those who are free are not having babies too
meaningful family life.
The Government and our employers should reflect on whether the existing climate of
encouraging or requiring our young professionals to work late into the night is necessary or
desirable.Please note it is still the top 0.5%'s control. Sometimes the employees are to be blamed because they want to excel.
Third, sociologists like Paulin Straughan have pointed out that Singapore’s highly competitive andThis is purely sociologists' thinking. I feel it is the parents' decision not really the education system. In Perth, those sporeans migrated because they want to give their children a stress free education and work put their children in costly private schools because they want their children to learn more what the public schools do not teach. In Kumon Perth, those who send their kids for enrichment classes are all mainly asians. Actually, spore schools std are now quite unform and provide eca and volunteering to students making competition fairer to the poorer students. Just imagine if the schools do not provide this, those from middle income families and above would be sending their kids to enrichment courses and tuition etc - making the competition less equal. If the students are like western countries and yet they cannot have boy-girl relationships at young age then most of the childhood time would be spent on internet - as it is now asian kids spend most time on computer than western kids - I believe is because they believe in boy-girl socialisation on top of sports.
stressful education system is also a deterrent to working parents having more children. The
Nordic countries, on the other hand, are famous for their high quality, egalitarian education
which fulfils the children’s aspiration for a happy childhood. It is a paradox that Finland, with no
streaming, no elite schools and no private tuition industry, is ranked as having the world’s best
education system.I always think could be Finland is a cold country(less sunshine) with nothing much to do and so have least distractions than spore kids. In any case, spore education achieve less variability in std in the world but are not that stellar on the top end. Private tuition cannot raise std because they simplify the students' learning experience and make them more lazy and have more time to play - I know professionals do not think this way but I know I am right about this. I see so many Top JC students in Perth (excellent O and
A) but cannot have the passion to beat caucasions where caucasions only face one national exam in year 12 because they want to go univ. Top JC students learn more than A-Lvll but do not appear the head start eventually make any difference to the degree results because they are less passionate in learning. Perhaps in local univers, the same thing happens and jealousy over foreign students become worse.
Fourth, it is significant that the developed countries with low TFRs include Japan, Korea, Italy
and Spain, which have a high degree of male chauvinism. Is it possible that Singapore too has a
high degree of male chauvinism? The women of Singapore are o􀄞en blamed for not marrying and
having children. Perhaps, the main problem is not our women but our men. Perhaps, what we
also need is a mindset change on the part of our men towards the status and role of our women
and the shared responsibilities of the husband and wife, and father and mother in domestic
chores and child�rearing.Of course, this male chauvinism is difficult to change - asian culture.
LESSON NO. 3
Embracing nature and sustainable development
SINGAPORE is probably Asia’s cleanest, greenest and most liveable city. Our air is healthy, our
water is potable and our land is wholesome. In addition, we enjoy good public health and food
safety. Visitors are astonished by the fact that, in spite of our high density, 47 per cent of our land
is covered in greenery. In view of this, the reader will ask what can we learn from the four Nordic
countries? I suggest three things.
First, people there love nature and their natural heritage. They seem to have an emotional, even a
spiritual, relationship with nature. They love their forests, lakes and 􀄦ords. In contrast, most
Singaporeans tend to have a more pragmatic relationship with nature. They apply a cost�benefit
analysis to the destruction of a natural heritage. Pragmatism is one of our virtues. We should,
however, be aware of the defects of our virtues. Not everything in life can be monetised.
Second, we can learn useful lessons from the way in which the Nordic countries have been able
to reconcile economic competitiveness with a deep commitment to sustainable development.
A􀄞er the 1992 Earth Summit, each of them has established a national commission to mainstream
sustainable development.
In the case of Finland, the Prime Minister chairs the National Commission on Sustainable
Development. The result is that there is a national consensus in each of those countries to
internalise the ethic of sustainable development into all aspects of life.
Third, at the microâ€�level, there are lessons in areas where Singapore has room for improvement –
for example, in energy efficiency, the use of solar energy, the recycling of waste, the use of
non�polluting buses, changing unsustainable pa􀄴erns of consumption and production, etc.
LESSON NO. 4
Heritage, culture and the arts
IN THE past two decades, inspired by the 1989 Ong Teng Cheong report and Mr George Yeo’s
leadership at the then Ministry of Information and the Arts, Singapore has undergone a paradigm
shi􀄞 in the areas of heritage, culture and the arts. The arts have blossomed. More and more
Singaporeans are interested in knowing their history and preserving their heritage. The trend is,
therefore, favourable. What can we learn from the Nordic countries?
First, we can learn the importance of giving all our children a good education in the arts. We have
made good progress in recent years. The opening of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
and the School of The Arts were important milestones.
We can strengthen arts education in our schools. We should consider starting courses in art
history and museum studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This will help in the
training of teachers, curators, dealers, collectors and museum administrators, all in short supply.
Second, we can emulate the achievements of the Nordic countries in respect of museums. They
have an impressive range of museums with strong collections. They have been able to harness the
benefit of public�private partnership. Their museum collections extend beyond their nations to
the cultures of the world.
For example, the David Collection in Copenhagen is one of the world’s best collections of Islamic
Art. The Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki has a very ambitious programming
agenda, covering Western as well as Asian and African art.
Third, because of their ancient Viking past and current strength in shipping and other maritime
industries, Denmark, Norway and Sweden have outstanding museums of maritime history.
Given the importance of maritime trade to Singapore’s past and present, it is puzzling that we do
not have a museum of maritime history. I hope one day the historic Clifford Pier, which now
houses a restaurant, will be the home of a world�class museum of maritime history. When that
time comes, we can look to the Nordic countries for inspiration.Embrace nature is good but arts are for the rich. I do not find myself a misfit in society just because I could not appreciate art or olympics. What is more important that the top 0.5% has a far more compassionate in not seeking breaking records of earnings because earnings are determined by them .
By Tommy Koh, For The Straits Times, May 19, 2012 -
Hey. you have the right approach, for all his effeminate, Prof TK is speaking as a Spokeperson forSIngapore with toomuch mix and match that is not a barometer or yardstick to gauge EU,or Nordic countries,
for my oponion Singapore is still very far behind, it is trying to play catch up with mish mash Asian public relaltions