Attitudes towards Institutions, Politics, and Policies: Key Findings from the World Value Survey

23 Mar 2021

Since its independence in 1965, Singapore's transformation from mediocrity to a world leader by various socio-economic metrics is often attributed to its resolute, pragmatist political leadership. However, the role of its citizens should not be underestimated too; their trust, compliance and support of public institutions and policies are integral to the continued success of the city-state.

Against this backdrop, this report, titled Attitudes towards Institutions, Politics, and Policies, is the second of a three-part series presenting the salient findings from the latest 2020 instalment of the World Values Survey (WVS). WVS is the largest non-commercial, cross-national, and time-series survey of public attitudes and values globally. Spanning 80 countries and currently in its seventh iteration, WVS seeks to study individuals' changing values across polities and their impact on social and political life.

Attitudes towards Institutions, Politics, and Policies analyses the responses of 2,012 Singapore participants for WVS 2020. Comparisons across WVS participant countries and iterations are presented where appropriate to allow for the tracking of shifting or sustaining values across time and space. In general, the survey sample is nationally representative, as the dataset was weighted to mirror the age, gender, and race demographics of the adult resident population in Singapore.

The following is a succinct rundown of the key findings spanning four key areas: A) public confidence or trust in our institutions, B) political attitudes, C) attitudes towards government surveillance, and D) attitudes towards immigration.

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IPS Exchange Series No. 17

Media Coverage

8World. 2021. 调查：公众支持政府在公共场所监控但反对在不知情的情况进行监控. 24 Mar
8World. 2021. 狮城有约 | 十分访谈：2020年世界价值观调查. 29 Mar
8World. 2021. 狮城有约 | 调查：三分之二国人认为政府有权在公共场所进行录像监控. 29 Mar
Berita Harian. 2021. Kebanyakan rakyat S'pura tidak minat politik, tetapi prihatin sesetengah isu dasar: Kajian. 24 Mar
CNA938 [radio]. 2021. Singapore Today with Lance Alexander and Melanie Oliveiro. 24 Mar
CNA938 [radio]. 2021. Asia First with Arnold Gay and Yasmin Jonkers. 24 Mar
Malay Mail. 2021. IPS study: Public confidence in Singapore state institutions rises, but falls for media, political parties, unions. 25 Mar
Mediacorp CAPITAL 958 [radio]. 2021. 小城大事. 24 Mar
Mediacorp CAPITAL 958 [radio]. 958 早点正能量. 24 Mar
Mediacorp Channel 5. 2021. News 5 Tonight. 24 Mar
Mediacorp Channel 5. 2021. CNA Singapore Tonight. 24 Mar
Mediacorp Channel 8. 2021. Hello Singapore 狮城有约. 26 Mar
Mediacorp Seithi. 2021. 'சிங்கிலிஷ்' பேசுவது தனிப்பட்ட தேசிய அடையாள உணர்வைத் தருகிறது: ஆய்வு. 24 Mar
Mediacorp Suria. 2021. Suria Berita. 24 Mar
Mediacorp Oli 968 [radio]. 2021. Tea Kadai. 24 Mar
Mediacorp Oli 968 [radio]. 2021. Vanakkam Singai. 24 Mar
Mediacorp Warna 942 [radio]. 2021. Dinamika Warna. 24 Mar
Mediacorp Warna 942 [radio]. 2021. Espresso Warna. 24 Mar
Oriental Daily. 2021. 多数新国人认可移民　惟仍冀政府限制人数. 25 Mar
Power98 [radio]. 2021. Power Steering. 24 Mar
Seehua. 2021. 多数新国人认可移民　惟仍冀政府限制人数. 25 Mar
The Business Times. 2021. Singaporeans have high level of confidence in government but politically uninterested. 24 Mar
The Online Citizen. 2021. Netizens dismiss IPS study findings that state younger, higher-income Singaporeans are more accepting of immigrants. 25 Mar
The Online Citizen. 2021. Minister K Shanmugam commends public confidence in S’pore police; MHA spent S$258 million above budget for publicity last year but gives no clarification. 25 Mar
The Straits Times. 2021. Singaporeans have high level of confidence in Government but politically uninterested: IPS study. 24 Mar
The Straits Times. 2021. Younger and higher-income S'poreans more open towards immigrants: IPS study. 24 Mar
The Straits Times. 2021. Younger, higher-income S'poreans more positive about immigrants. 25 Mar
The Straits Times. 2021. High level of confidence in Govt here: Study. 25 Mar
TODAY. 2021. Most S’poreans aren’t interested in politics, but feel strongly about some policy issues: IPS study. 24 Mar
TODAY. 2021. Public confidence in S'pore state institutions rises, but falls for media, political parties, unions: IPS study. 24 Mar
TODAY. 2021. IPS study finds most Singapore residents, especially older ones, want strict limits on inflow of foreigners. 25 Mar
联合早报. 2021. 调查：大多数不认同监控电邮等私人空间国人支持政府在公共场所进行监控. 25 Mar
联合早报. 2021. 虽认可移民在发展中的角色大多数国人盼严格限制人数. 25 Mar

Attitudes towards Institutions, Politics, and Policies: Key Findings from the World Value Survey

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