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In the Spotlight
On 20 and 26 January 2026, the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) held its flagship annual conference, Singapore Perspectives 2026 (SP2026), on the theme “Fraternity”.
The physical conference brought together 1,200 participants, featuring five panels across online and in-person sessions examining how Singapore can renew the ties that bind in an increasingly complex social landscape. Framed around the theme of Fraternity, the discussions explored how trust, shared norms and everyday relationships can be strengthened amid digitalisation, demographic change and growing social stratification.
The conference concluded with a dialogue session with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, who addressed Singapore’s low Total Fertility Rate, and highlighted how diverse, in-person social ties, integration efforts and shared acts of collective responsibility help strengthen Singapore’s social fabric.
Find out more and read the reports for the conference
here.
Recent Events
The Second S R Nathan Fellowship Young Leaders Seminar — Giving Voice to a Silent Epidemic: Transforming Youth Mental Health in Singapore
Held on 10 February 2026, the seminar featured a keynote delivered by Dr Rayner Tan, Assistant Professor at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUS, who highlighted growing concerns over youth mental health, including rising rates of severe depression, anxiety and suicide.
It was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ms Alia Abdullah, Head of Digital Media and Analytics & Digital Solutions at MUIS, and featured Dr Jacqueline Tilley, Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Education, and Mr Daniel Ho, Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health. Panellists discussed achievement pressures, shifting understandings of trauma, and the importance of listening to youths on their own terms.
The session concluded with a Q&A where panellists addressed questions including how the education system — and beyond — can support youth mental health, how to provide holistic individualised mental healthcare, and how lived experiences can be better utilised in policymaking.
Recent Releases on IPS Website
Articles
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Commentary — Hard truth: For social mobility, you first need stable work
(The Straits Times)
By Wong Chin Yi
• 8-min read Amid positive findings in the Supporting Lower-Income Households Trends Report 2025, one concern stands out: nearly four in 10 ComLink+ families are not in stable employment. The commentary argues that job stability remains vital for social mobility, and calls for more predictable work, clearer progression pathways, and stronger protections for flexible workers. | Commentary — Budget meals are needed, but why should hawkers bear the burden?
(The Straits Times)
By Teo Kay Key
• 7-min read Hawkers hold a unique place in Singapore, but we may place too much pressure on them to deliver social outcomes. This commentary examines the budget meal scheme, arguing that making it optional is a step forward. It highlights how rising operating costs make mandates difficult to sustain, and calls for food affordability to be a shared responsibility. |
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Commentary — The life-changing turning points out of homelessness in Singapore
(The Straits Times)
By Harry Tan
• 7-min read Amid positive findings in the Supporting Lower-Income Households Trends Report 2025, one concern stands out: nearly four in 10 ComLink+ families are not in stable employment. The commentary argues that job stability remains vital for social mobility, and calls for more predictable work, clearer progression pathways, and stronger protections for flexible workers. | Commentary — Budget 2026 should make it easier to book void deck spaces and rebuild social capital
(The Straits Times)
By Nicholas Thomas
• 7-min read How can Budget 2026 make it easier for Singaporeans to build stronger community ties? This commentary suggests three practical steps: simplify micro-grants for ground-up initiatives, streamline the booking of community spaces like void decks, and better recognise time spent volunteering. Small policy tweaks could go a long way in rebuilding everyday social connections. |
| Commentary — Income growth alone won’t sustain social mobility in Singapore
(The Straits Times)
By Mathew Mathews
• 7-min read
The latest Ministry of Finance Occasional Paper shows that social mobility in Singapore remains strong, but there are signs it may be softening. This commentary argues that modest wealth buffers increasingly shape whether families can sustain progress through life’s shocks. It highlights three priorities: strengthen wealth-building support, protect assets during crises, and sustain mobility.
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