IPS Update Issue September 2021

In 2019, together with the National Archives of Singapore, the Institute of Policy Studies embarked on the IPS Oral History Project — a series of interviews on the conceptualisation, establishment and development of IPS over the past three decades.

A total of 29 interviewees, with personal experiences on the Institute’s formation, evolution, and day-to-day operations, were interviewed. Summaries of these interviews are now available on our IPS Oral History page, including videos of our Founding Patron ESM Goh Chok Tong, Director Janadas Devan, and Special Advisor Professor Tommy Koh.

Check out the interview summaries and videos on our IPS Oral History page here, and read the full report on the project here.

Op-ed — Fair play for Singapore’s Paralympians
(The Straits Times)
By Tommy Koh
• 4-min read

The cash payout for an athlete winning a gold medal at the Paralympics is $200,000 — or one-fifth of the $1 million reward for those who achieve Olympic gold. IPS' Special Advisor Professor Tommy Koh calls for an end to the cash payout gap. Read more on The Straits Times.

Op-ed — Can money buy happiness? Not always for kids
(The Straits Times)
By Jacqueline Tilley
• 5-min read

Despite significant financial and educational advantage, youth from affluent families face the same or higher risk of mental health problems than those from poorer families. IPS’ Jacqueline Tilley explains why on The Straits Times.

Event Summary — IPS Online Forum on Corporate Policies and Culture
By IPS Public Affairs
• 8-min read

The IPS Online Forum on Corporate Policies and Culture was held on 31 August 2021, and is the last of three online forums with changemakers actively engaged in community causes that effect positive social change. The forum featured a dialogue with four changemakers in Singapore who shared about the importance of flexible work arrangements, the creation of inclusive work conditions for persons with disabilities, and the need for a paradigm shift in corporate culture. 

Responding to viewers' questions, panellists also shared their views on religious or partisan biases in hiring, how ex-offenders could be included in the workplace and society, as well as the importance of soft skills in both society and the workforce.

Commentary — ‘Softer’ approach with moral suasion better at dismantling racist mindsets
(CNA)
By Mathew Mathews and Melvin Tay
• 6-min read

“Reliance on policing and enforcement as main mechanisms to keep the peace shifts attention away from efforts to identify the root cause of any injustices felt, clarify such issues and forestall similar sentiments in future.” How can a softer approach be more effective at addressing racist mindsets? IPS’ Mathew Mathews and Melvin Tay write for CNA. 

Commentary — Why it is necessary but not easy to give delivery riders better benefits and protection
(TODAY)
By Shazly Zain and Woo Jun Jie
• 5-min read

While mandating the provision of CPF contributions by delivery platforms and delivery riders can help riders save for their retirement and health needs, such moves would impact cash liquidity for them. IPS' Shazly Zain and Woo Jun Jie write for TODAY.

Commentary — Techies essential for Singapore to stay relevant as regional business hub
(CNA)
By Faizal Yahya
• 7-min read

The drive towards digital transformation spurred by the pandemic has exacerbated the shortage of tech human capital or techies. IPS' Faizal Yahya writes for CNA on the need to create a complementary system of both local and foreign top-tier tech talent.

Commentary — Imperial encore in the Third World
(IPS Commons)
By Asad Latif
• 3-min read

In this IPS Commons piece, Asad Latif discusses a recent video of Afghans falling off a departing American military aircraft at Kabul’s international airport, and how it serves as a powerful symbol of the Third World's lack of power in the face of the great powers’ economic globalisation and military might. 

Commentary — Value placed on low-wage workers is a price Singapore should pay for shared future
(CNA)
By Christopher Gee
• 5-min read

If some Singaporeans continue to be unable to earn enough to sustain themselves here and lead purposeful lives, national prosperity can come at a cost to unity and social cohesion. IPS' Christopher Gee writes for CNA on the need to accept higher prices and taxes to ensure no one is willingly left behind.

Commentary — Going beyond a task force to build a Mentally Healthy Nation
(IPS Commons)
By Anthea Ong and Rayner Tan
• 6-min read

The government has announced that the COVID-19 Mental Health Task Force will be transformed into an inter-agency task force to provide a coordinated national response to mental health and well-being beyond the pandemic. Can more be done? Former NMP Anthea Ong and Dr Rayner Tan share their views on IPS Commons.

Commentary — Time for a new debate on old issues
(IPS Commons)
By Asad Latif
• 4-min read

Amartya Sen, who received the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1998, recently published his autobiography, Home in the World: A Memoir. Reflecting on the memoir, Asad Latif writes on how Amartya Sen reminds us of the need for new debates on conventionally accepted economic structures and issues. Read more on IPS Commons. 

Event Summary — IPS Online Forum on Sustainability and Liveability
By IPS Public Affairs
• 6-min read

The IPS Online Forum on Sustainability and Liveability was held on 17 August 2021 and is the second of three virtual forums with changemakers in Singapore actively engaged in community causes that effect positive social change in the country. Responding to viewers’ questions, panellists weighed in on how efforts towards sustainability and liveability could address issues of inequality. 

Commentary — Singapore should focus on economic growth rather than redistributing a smaller pie as it reopens
(CNA)
By Faizal Yahya
• 6-min read

Can we focus on economic growth and redistribution at the same time? In this piece, IPS' Faizal Yahya discusses the role of government policies to stimulate growth during the pandemic, and economic concerns over the transition towards a post-COVID-19 world. Read more on CNA.

Op-ed — A warm welcome to Kamala Harris
(The Straits Times)
By Tommy Koh
• 5-min read

The Vice-President of the United States, Ms Kamala Harris arrived in Singapore for her first official trip to Southeast Asia. In this piece for The Straits Times, IPS’ Special Advisor Professor Tommy Koh highlights why Singaporeans warmly welcome her visit, as well as some areas of convergent interest and concern between the US, Singapore and ASEAN.

As part of its scenario-planning project “Reimagining Singapore 2030”, IPS recently conducted a series of three online forums with Singaporean changemakers. At each IPS Online forum, panellists shared about the change that has taken place in their domains of work over recent years, the change they hope to see over the next decade, and their reflections on the processes by which to effect positive social change in our country. The three forums focused on the topics of Well-Being and Belonging, Sustainability and Liveability, and Corporate Policies and Culture respectively. 

The report for the first and third forums can be found here and here. The second report, which includes an extended post-forum interview with the panellists on the topic of changemaking, can be read here. In case you missed it, video recordings of the three forums are also available for viewing here.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives and livelihoods of many artists over the past year. The implementation of Safe Management Measures in studios and rehearsal spaces proved to be a challenge, especially for those from the visual and performing arts disciplines. In this 11th series of the IPS-NGS-SAM Spotlight on Cultural Policy Series, jointly organised by IPS, National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum, policymakers and artists reflected on the effectiveness of relief measures introduced and made some recommendations on what can be done to sustain the arts industry as the pandemic continues.