IPS Update Issue July 2024

On 2 July 2024, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong embarked on his first youth-centric dialogue since his inauguration. Jointly organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Varsity Voices (VV) and the Singapore Management University (SMU), the event was attended by close to 900 students from various Institutes of Higher Learning.

Amid future uncertainties and volatility due to a more difficult external environment and technological advances, PM Wong stressed the Government's efforts to refresh our social compact and strengthen our sense of solidarity and unity as a nation. He encouraged youths to pursue their definitions of success and urged everyone to contribute to a better society.

During the lively Q&A session, many questions covered topics like AI, mental health, entrepreneurship and social mobility.

Read the event summary and watch the dialogue here.

Launch of Navigating Uncertainty: Our Region in an Age of Flux

“Navigating Uncertainty: Our Region in an Age of Flux” by Professor Joseph Liow, IPS’ 13th S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore, was launched on 5 July 2024. The book compiles three lectures delivered by Prof Liow between October and November 2023, along with highlights of his Q&A sessions.

The launch was graced by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education. In his speech, he stressed the need for leadership with honesty, gumption and vision to navigate global uncertainties. Additionally, he highlighted the need to work with like-minded countries and corporations to shape the future. 

In his remarks, Prof Liow reflected on the key themes of his lectures and highlighted the importance of addressing issues of identity and cultural dynamics within the region.

Watch the full launch here.

Purchase the book here. Enjoy 20% off with the promo code WSIPS20, valid till 31 August 2024.

IPS-MHA Forum on Non-Violent Ethnic Hostilities

In recent decades, societies have seen many hostilities rooted in and fuelled by ethnic identities and deep-seated tribalism. Acts of prejudice and hostility are now more prevalent in non-violent forms which can have pernicious effects on a country’s social fabric. 

In response to this growing concern, the full-day IPS-MHA Forum held on 1 July 2024 served as a platform to discuss the spectrum of non-violent ethnic hostilities, specifically in the Asia Pacific region. 

The forum was graced by Minister of Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Mr K Shanmugam.

Find out more here.

Commentary — Will the social media battle sway voters in S’pore?
(The Straits Times)
By Teo Kay Key
• 6-min read

Social media has become crucial during election campaigning globally. With 85 per cent of the Singaporean population being social media users, will the social media battle sway voters?

In this commentary, Teo Kay Key discusses the increasing role of social media in political campaigns in Singapore, highlighting its significance in reaching and engaging with voters.

However, she also emphasises the limitations of social media, noting that longstanding party loyalty and policy satisfaction are stronger predictors of voting behaviours.

Commentary — Contestation and Collaboration: Politics in Singapore
(Asialink)
By Gillian Koh
• 4-min read

In this commentary by Gillian Koh, she discusses the livelier political landscape of diverse demands of citizens and civil society that will be inherited by Singapore's fourth Prime Minister, Mr Lawrence Wong. 

With a growing desire for greater political pluralism, based on findings by IPS’ post-election polls, government engagement with citizens and civil society will be important. She highlighted how members of the civil society continue to be ambivalent about democracy in Singapore.

Commentary — More Singapore women may skip marriage. Are gender relations behind this?
(The Straits Times)
By Kalpana Vignehsa
• 6-min read

In a recent analysis by Singapore’s Department of Statistics, falling birth rates are now attributed to increasing rates of singlehood, rather than couples choosing to be childfree.

In this commentary, Kalpana Vignehsa discusses the aspects of gender relations between men and women that are making marriage significantly less attractive for women than men. She emphasised that we need to understand and address this issue, rather than the skewed notion that women are solely responsible for a falling total fertility rate.

She calls for the re-evaluation of domestic responsibilities, workplace and public policies to promote true gender equality and support balanced partnerships.

Report — IPS Academic Colloquium on Public Housing

On 21 May 2024, IPS convened an Academic Colloquium on Public Housing to explore suitable analytical frameworks that explain Singapore’s evolving political economy with a discussion of its public housing system and the broader social support system. 

Set within the context of the government’s Forward Singapore roadmap that seeks to refresh the social compact, the discussion raised ways in which these systems can be more inclusive, equitable and sustainable as well as the barriers to such reforms. The report on the colloquium records participants’ calls for better data to improve their assessment of these policies.

Research article — The Impact of Teleworking on Women’s Work-Life Balance and Life Satisfaction: a Longitudinal Study from Singapore

As teleworking gains widespread global acceptance as a prevalent work arrangement, it has positively impacted life satisfaction through improved work-life balance.

In this research article by Jolene Tan, Jeremy Lim-Soh and Tan Poh Lin, they examine the specific mechanisms by which teleworking affects life satisfaction among Singaporean women. 

Using data on 358 married Singaporean women, the study also found that while teleworking worsens workplace relationships and reduces working hours, these factors do not significantly impact life satisfaction.

IPS Exchange No. 29 — Public Perceptions of Provision of Essential Needs

The Household Needs Study, spearheaded by SMU’s Paulin Straughan and IPS’ Mathew Mathews, identified 40 items and activities deemed essential for a normal life in Singapore. It examined Singaporeans’ ability to afford these items and their general attitudes and beliefs towards reasons for poverty.

Additionally, the IPS Exchange on Public Perceptions of Provisions of Essential Needs presented findings on Singaporean’s perceptions of who should provide these essential items to those in need. Conducted between May 2024 to June 2024, the study found that respondents were inclined to view the self as the primary provider for essential items, followed by the government, community, relatives/friends, and then businesses.