Dr Melvin Tay is Research Fellow in the Institute of Policy Studies’ Social Lab. His research interests lie at the intersection of politics and society; with a focus on societal faultlines, their significance, and their management via policy instruments and community platforms. He has scoped, managed, and contributed to several public sector-commissioned projects on race, religion, immigration, class, sexuality, age and education – key faultlines in the Singapore context.
Prior to his time at IPS, Melvin was a corporate strategist at a top management consulting firm. He worked directly with the MD to drive formulation of market strategy across Asia-Pacific markets, run strategic alignment workshops for C-suite clients and internal stakeholders, and contribute to the delivery of external strategy and visioning projects for key public sector agencies.
Outside of the Institute, Melvin has been well-involved in several community and youth empowerment initiatives, in partnership with the Central Singapore Community Development Council and the National Youth Council since 2011. These are conceptualised with the intent to provide at-risk and underprivileged youth pathways to success, and have to-date impacted over 5,000 youths.
Melvin has a PhD in Public Policy from the University of Tokyo, a Master of Social Sciences (Political Economy), and a Bachelor of Social Sciences (1st Class Honours) in Political Science and Philosophy from the National University of Singapore.
Research Interests
Social divisions, social trust, race, religion, immigration, nationality, class, inequality, gender and sexuality, generational divides, education
Publications
- Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., and Tay, M., and Low, B. (2025). Perceptions of and Challenges to Singaporean-ness: Key Findings from the IPS-CNA Survey on National Identity. IPS Working Papers No. 69.
- Mathew, M., Lim, H. A., Teo, K. K., and Tay, M. (2025). Moral Attitudes in Flux: Comparing Trends across Religions in Singapore. IPS Working Papers No. 66.
- Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Haziq, I. B. M., and Tay, M. (2025). Religious Identity and Practice among Singaporeans. IPS Working Papers No. 65.
- Mathew, M., Tay, M., and Teo, K. K. (2025). Prejudice, Attitudes and Critical Perspectives on Race in Singapore. IPS Working Papers No. 64.
- Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., and Tay, M. (2025). Friendships in Flux: Generational and Socio-Economic Divides in Singapore. IPS Working Papers No. 62.
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- Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Tay, M. and Poh, R. (2025). Faultlines in Singapore: Perceptions and Management with a Focus on Race and Religion. IPS Working Papers No. 60.
- Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Poh, R. and Tay, M. (2025). Results from the IPS-OnePeople.sg Indicators of Racial and Religious Harmony 2024. IPS Working Papers No. 59.
- Aoki, N., Tay, M., & Rawat, S. (2024). Whole-of-government and joined-up government: A systematic literature review. Public Administration,102(2), 733–752. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12949
- Aoki, N., Tay, M., & Yarime, M. (2024).Trustworthy public sector AI: research progress and future agendas. In Charalabidis, Y., Medaglia, R., and van Noordt, C. (Eds)., Research Handbook on Public Management and Artificial Intelligence (pp. 263-276). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Mathew, M. and Tay, M. (Eds.). (2023) Immigrant Integration in Contemporary Singapore: Solutioning amidst challenges. Singapore: World Scientific. https://doi.org/10.1142/13176
- Mathew, M. and Tay, M. (2023). Impact of COVID-19 on Immigrant Perceptions and Relations. In Mathew, M. and Tay, M. (Eds.), Immigrant Integration in Contemporary Singapore: Solutioning amidst challenges (pp. 3-26). https://doi.org/10.1142/13176
- Tay, M. and Mathew, M. (2023). The Way Forward: Engagement, Dialogue and Ground-up Initiatives Integral to Integration. In Mathew, M. and Tay, M. (Eds.), Immigrant Integration in Contemporary Singapore: Solutioning amidst challenges (pp. 381-410). https://doi.org/10.1142/13176
- Mathew, M., and Tay, M. (2021). Perusing the Contemporary Interplay of Religion and Politics. In Mathew, M. and Tay, M. (Eds.) Religion and Identity Politics: Global trends and local realities (pp. xiii-xxvii). Singapore: World Scientific. https://doi.org/10.1142/12240
- Tay, M and Mathew, M. (2021) Religion and Identity Politics: Global trends and local realities. Singapore: World Scientific Press.
- Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Tay, M. & Wang, A. (2021). Lived Experiences in Singapore: Key Findings from the World Value Survey. IPS Exchange Series No. 18.
- Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Tay, M. & Wang, A. (2021). Attitudes towards Institutions, Politics, and Policies: Key Findings from the World Values Survey. IPS Exchange Series No. 17.
- Mathew, M., Teo, K. K., Tay, M. & Wang, A. (2021). Our Singaporean Values: Key Findings from the World Values Survey. IPS Exchange Series No. 16.
- Mathew, M., Tay, M., & Teo, K. K. (2020). Integral: A Report on Social Integration in Singapore for the 10th Anniversary of the NIC. National Integration Council and Institute of Policy Studies.
- Mathew, M., Tay, M., Selvarajan, S. & Tan, Z.H. (2020). Language Proficiency, Identity & Management: Results from the IPS Survey on Language, Race & Religion. IPS Exchange Series No. 15.
- Mathew, M., Tay, M., Selvarajan, S. (2019). Faultlines in Singapore: Public Opinion on their Realities, Management & Consequences. IPS Working Paper No.37.
- Tay, M. (2017). Global Production Networks: Theorizing Economic Development in an Interconnected World by Neil M. Coe and Henry Wai-Chung Yeung (review). Journal of Southeast Asian Economies 34 (1): 222-224.
- Aoki, N. and Tay, M. (2015). Managerialism Meets Regime: A Distinctively Singaporean Marriage?. Asian Journal of Political Science 23 (3): 346-365.
Op-eds/Commentaries
- Tay, M. & Mathew, M. (2025, Dec 24). Open for business, closed in our hearts? Immigration and the future of Singapore identity. The Business Times.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2025, Oct 18). Please keep religion out of partisan politics. The Straits Times.
- Tay, M. (2025, Aug 7). 郑永尧：团结不是妄想， 多元不是阻挠. Lianhe Zaobao.
- Tay, M. (2025, Feb 12). S’pore society needs to step up to preserve racial, religious harmony. The Straits Times.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2024, Dec 31). A breakthrough year in advancing workers’ rights in Singapore. The Straits Times.
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- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2024, Aug 20). Commentary: Singapore goes big on parental leave. Now for fathers and employers to step up. Channel NewsAsia.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2024, Aug 15). Harmony in the cross hairs: Lessons for Singapore from the UK riots. The Straits Times.
- Tay, M. & Mathew, M. (2024, May 2). The curious case of Singapore’s ‘Eastie’ identity. The Straits Times.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2024, Feb 22). Commentary: Don’t underestimate casual racism at Singapore workplaces. Channel NewsAsia.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2023, Sep 21). Why religion remains a force for good, not source of division, in Singapore. The Straits Times.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2023, Jun 9). Can workplace fairness law deter errant employers and avoid worsening work conflict?. The Straits Times.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2023, Mar 4). Must you speak English to qualify as a Singapore PR or new citizen?. The Straits Times.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2023, Feb 16). Commentary: More paternity leave is promising, but Singapore could be so much bolder. Channel NewsAsia.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2023, Jan 5). Resolved to earn more money in 2023? Richer doesn’t mean happier. The Straits Times.
- Tay, M. & Mathew, M. (2022, Dec 9). Commentary: Don’t go looking for happiness in the wrong places. Channel NewsAsia.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2022, Jul 30). Race, rights and respect: Reflections on the route to harmony. The Straits Times.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2021, Sep 4). Commentary: ‘Softer’ approach with moral suasion better at dismantling racist mindsets. Channel NewsAsia.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2021, Apr 2). Fading faith? Fathoming the future of Singapore's religious landscape. The Straits Times.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2021, Apr 2). Understanding the ire and intricacies of immigration in Singapore. TODAY.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2021, Feb 26). Class divisions: The risks to Singapore's cohesion. The Straits Times.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2021, Jan 29). The keys to building resilience against lone wolf attacks. The Straits Times.
- Mathew, M. & Tay, M. (2020, Aug 20). More heartfelt discussions on race needed, less reliance on policing. The Straits Times.
- Mathew, M., & Tay, M. (2019, Nov 20). How should Singapore go about having religious discourse on social issues, especially contentious ones?. TODAY.
- Mathew, M., & Tay, M. (2019, Aug 1). Why Singapore needs stronger safeguards against rise of religious and identity politics. TODAY.
Conferences / Presentations
- Panellist (1 Dec 2025). Dependencies, Partnerships & Digital Bridges: Reimagining Cooperation between Europe and the Global South Workshop. German Federal Foreign Office, German Embassy in Singapore, the Digital Transformation Lab (DigiTraL) of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), and the Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities (CSSH), NUS. Singapore.
- Moderator (29 Jan 2024). Findings from SP2024 Pre-Conference Poll. Singapore Perspectives 2024, Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore.
- Panellist (24 Jan 2024). National Youth Council x Singapore Polytechnic Webinar Series on Local-Foreigner Integration, Singapore.
- Panellist (24 Nov 2023). Building Bridges: Unveiling Challenges, Seeking Connections, National Youth Council Dialogue on Local-Foreigner Integration, Singapore.
- Tay, M. (2018). Beyond Power Plays: Why Do Weaker States Ink Deep Trade Agreements?. Inaugural National University of Singapore Political Science Conference, Singapore.
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- Tay, M., Lee, T., and Laksmana, E. (2017). Why do Retired Military Officers Enter Politics?: An Empirical Analysis of Indonesia’s Military Academy Graduates. 75th Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, IL.
- Kim, S. Y., and Lee, C. Y. Y. and Tay, M. (2017). Setting up Shop in Foreign Lands: Do Investment Commitments in PTAs Promote Production Networks?. The Political Economy of International Organizations 10th Annual Conference, University of Bern, Switzerland.
- Aoki, N. and Tay, M. (2013). Managerialism and Regimes in Public Administration. Public Management Research Conference, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
Courses Taught
- Lecturer, Public Administration in Singapore (PS2244). AY2024/25 Semester 2. Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore.
Awards / Scholarships
- University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy Doctoral Fellowship
- Elfinity-Asia Pacific Industry Fellowship
- National University of Singapore (NUS) Graduate Teaching Fellowship
- NUS Master’s Scholarship
- NUS Undergraduate-UTown Scholarship