Opinions

On 14 year-old YOG athlete Clarence Chew

Arts & Culture

Baybeats 2010: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Arts & Culture

Sandcastle: a refreshing effort by Boo Junfeng

Arts & Culture

Baybeats 2010

Written on June 1, 2009 by Kelvin Teo

Email Story Printable version

Print Story

“Singapore tops social and economic progress” – Is it?

Is Singapore really top in social and economic progress?

(photo credits:StarvingFox)

SINGAPORE – The Straits Times reported today that Singapore’s social and economic progress has propelled it into the highest ranked Asian state, according to the Caux Round Table (CRT). CRT is a global network comprising business and political leaders who champion ethics and values in business and governance. Singapore came in at 14th place, above United States and Britain, but below Nordic countries, Australia and New Zealand.

The study used 14 different measurements of economic activity which includes Gross Domestic Product (GDP), quality of life plus legal and political institutions. Indeed, the results of the studies have raised quite a few eyebrows. Singapore officially became the first Asian country to enter recession amidst the global economic crisis. According to Bloomberg, Singapore’s GDP shrank 16.4% between October and December in 2008, and further shrank 14.6% in the first quarter. The Gini coefficient, an indicator of income disparity, did not look good in Singapore’s favor too. The Gini coefficient worsened from 42.5 in 1998 to 47.2 in 2006. There is also the question of whether the study has measured progress in terms of changes in the economic measurements, for example, how much the GDP and other indicators are going up or down annually. This point was raised by NMP Siew Kum Hong during his interview with the Kent Ridge Common. Observers have also pointed out that Singapore’s economy is centrally planned with entrepreneurship initiatives a rare feature. And experts have called for the release of a share of our economy to homegrown entrepreneurs. Such a move will reap benefits through provision of employment and higher labour incomes, domestic consumption and domestic profits.

It was interesting that political institutions was also included in the study. Singapore is unlike the USA and Britain or the Nordic countries in addition to Australia and New Zealand in the sense that it is effectively a one-party state. Criticisms have been raised in the way in which the elections are carried out, which favored the ruling party. And newly enacted laws were specially designed to curtail the outreach of political opposition, which explained why only 2 out of the current 84 seats in parliament belonged to the opposition. If freedom of political institutions was measured, Singapore would not score highly in this area vis-à-vis other true democracies. However, if stability of political institutions (staying power of the ruling party) is measured, of course Singapore would score highly. But the same can be said of North Korea’s Worker’s Party of Korea and the Ba’ath party of Iraq (prior to the US invasion at least). It will be interesting to know how much weightage is given to political institutions in this study, and what aspects of the latter is being studied.

Of course, there is a certain “feel good” factor surrounding this CRT study. But it is beginning to look like the Times Higher Education Supplement and Quacquarelli Symonds (THES-QS) world university rankings, which many out there would take with a pinch of salt.

374413 Comments2009-06-01+03%3A12%3A00Kelvin+Teo on "“Singapore tops social and economic progress” – Is it?"

Cynic on Mon, 1st Jun 2009 11:00 am

There are things you cannot measure, and more seriously numbers may lead you to perceive a different and false reality.

I come to this opinion from trying to design measurement tools for intangible things. For one measures can be faked, not that those assessed cheat, but that they strive to perform well, very well, in whatever that is being measured, and only that. And secondly the thing measure oftentimes is incomplete, and cannot capture the full and true essence of the intangible thing.

So I end throwing away the measures and rely instead on qualitative analysis and opinions which can capture things you never thought were even significant when you first try to design measures. So all numbers must be interpreted, with a bucket of salt, and for intangible things, perhaps next to useless.

But Singaporeans are obsessed with such "objective" measures, eg school ranking, that everything ends up prostituted to make these numbers look good. And in so doing fail in the very purposes these numbers were created for.

The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 2 Jun 2009 on Tue, 2nd Jun 2009 11:24 am

[...] Discourse – the kent ridge common: “Singapore tops social and economic progress” – Is it? – Singapore Enquirer: Changes to CPF Minimum Sum – Singapore Recalcitrant: The Apoplexy of [...]

Seelan Palay on Wed, 3rd Jun 2009 3:08 am

Great to see NUS students being so forthright in their analysis and response to Singapore's issues. Keep it up KRC!

Singapore Democrats on Fri, 5th Jun 2009 10:05 am

Thank you for the insightful blogpost. The Singapore Democrats have featured your post in our blogs of the week section – http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/blogs-of-the-we...

More about our “Blogs of the week” section – http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/2212-...

StatistiX on Fri, 5th Jun 2009 2:55 pm

Those results and conclusions made by people who set themselves out to achieve certain objectives within whatever "network" are taken from "statistics" of surveys.

Results of surveys are dependent upon the questions asked. These questions can be directed intentionally or unintentionally towards a certain outcome, irrespective of the integrity of the person/s behind these surveys.

Statistics can lie, and lie convincingly through clever and cunning manipulations and presentations. More often than not, there usually exist some kinds of incentives for the statisticians or surveyors to paint a picture one way or another to suit the current situation or the current patrons/financiers. Moreover, every one of these statisticians or surveyors is a wage-earner in one way or another; and as a wage-earner, he/she has no choice but to abide by the directions of the pay-master.

Mark Twain, popularized in the U.S. by Benjamin Disraeli's statement, "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics." That sardonic journalist, author, and speaker recognized the persuasive power of authoritatively made numeric presentations to a largely innumerate public. Today, ninety-nine years after Twain's death, those words still rings true in all regions of the world!

tongtong on Fri, 5th Jun 2009 3:55 pm

Dear Cynic,

KRC is also guilty of touting numbers about its readership when they quote Alexa.com. People use numbers as if they are objective yardsticks without any regard whether the tools of measurement is credible or not.

KRC can critique the present government about big issues, but they really are blind to their own biases.

Lester Lim on Fri, 5th Jun 2009 4:24 pm

Hi Tongtong,

I believe that we are not inflating our claim that we are the "most read independent university publication". Even if you bring the objectivity of the measurement techniques utilized by Alexa.com into disrepute, we are still ahead of all other university publications (The Ridge Online, Campus Observer, Nanyang Enquirer etc.) based on a judgment by the same yardstick.

Also, we'd appreciate if you could emerge from your veil of anonymity to lend more credibility to your opinions.

Best regards,
Lester

tongtong on Fri, 5th Jun 2009 5:30 pm

Dear Lester,

What I am insinuating is that numbers used by the S'pore govt and KRC are for bragging rights: The numbers are to inflate egos more than being a legitimate measure of how good you are. The reason I read you guys is to see how many times you can shoot yourself in the foot. And I can assure you, I am not the only one.

Being high on social and economic rankings or having a supposedly higher "readership" is a facade. You should know that and I am saying it here for others to read: It speaks little or nothing of what is really going on in the readers' heads when they evaluate you.

The issue I have is that if you can catch others out, you should look to yourself or your own publication first, and not fall into the same trap. You are championing numbers and so too was the original report in ST.

And even if I told you my name, would it change the validity of my point?

The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 23 on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 10:37 am

[...] Musings: A Sign of South Korean Democratic Maturity that Singapore Lacks? – the kent ridge common: “Singapore tops social and economic progress” – Is it? – Singapore Recalcitrant: The Apoplexy of ASEAN – Singabloodypore: Is Singapore’s e-govt [...]

Lester Lim on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 11:05 am

Dear Tongtong,

Thank you for your comments.

Indeed you are right in saying that the readership of a publication is by no means an indicator of its merits. A high readership judged by a quantitative yardstick does not categorically prove the worth of a publication.

Nonetheless, I can assure you in the same vein that the reason we mention our readership is not for inflating our egos or asserting that it is a legitimate 'measure' of how good we are. The only reason I do so is to encourage more students to adopt a more pro-active role in believing that their opinions/critical thought truly matters, and perhaps to present that voice through our publication which has a fair amount of readers.

As a new publication we will inevitably falter in our analysis of certain events or news stories. Most of us are but amateur writers with no experience in publication or in journalism. But we're trying our best here to start something new, and to make a difference. We cannot promise a devastating critique of a news, or a drop-dead accurate analysis of what is truly beneath the surface. But we'll try.

It is only with opinions and criticism from people like you that we can seek to further improve ourselves. Even if you do not entirely agree with some of our points brought up in our articles, we'd hope that you'd continue to read us and perhaps contribute critically to the discussion process.

The reason that I asked you for your true identity is because I have noticed you posting on our comment boards with what looks like spam ("the kent ridge common is sooooo boring") for at least a couple of times. I believe it is a fair request to make as if you emerge from being completely anonymous on the internet, you would perhaps harbor more responsibility in your postings and will not likely post on our board with spam.

I apologize in advance if the 'tongtong' that had posted as such earlier on is not you.

Thank you for your comments once again.

Sincerely yours,
Lester

Kelvin_Teo on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 3:28 pm

Dear Tongtong:

I guessed you addressed your opinion to the wrong person. To Lester, he is using such numbers in the hope that more people would come forward to join us so that they can get heard. And we did have a few people joining us, some even submitting letters to us. So you cannot say that it doesn\\'t work either. His intention wasn\\'t to really to compare, but to encourage people to come forth and have their views heard, and I can tell you that there are people coming forth.

However, if you read the disclaimers, the opinion expressed by the writer does not represent that of the others, so we are a loose consortium if you like. Perhaps, you can direct your criticisms to myself since I expressed the earlier opinion of not looking at numbers.

Yes, of course, Alexa web rankings do have its flaws. But, if you were to address the criticism to me, I agree with you the fulility of using numbers to boast comparisons with others. I would like to stake my stand now: I am not a fan of using numbers as basis of comparison because their methodologies have flaws and given a choice, I would prefer we just move on without comparing with other publications. And the nature of Life is that things are in a state of flux. Campus observer and The Ridge have done a tremendous jobs, and they have backing of a department and NUSSU respectively. They have capacity to outgun us at every corner.

I particularly don\\'t like comparing with others, especially The Ridge. I did have great friends from there, because I was a Ridge alumni. I was glad my work was recognised by some people there, and I was fortunate to receive a referral letter from the NUSSU president. I do hope The Ridge will continue to do well, and as a Ridge alumni, I wish it will be every bit as successful too.

Sincerely yours

Kelvin_Teo on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 4:05 pm

Dear Tongtong:

I guess each and every one of us would have differing opinions of an article or publication. I can say off-hand, our feedbacks from readers have been positive in general, from those who email us personally, even from those who circulated our articles. And you may be surprised at the type of people who circulated our articles, from academician who emailed me to others.

I just want to ask you, since you are reading us to see how many times we can shoot ourselves in the foot so to speak. Is there any way where we can cater to your interests? Apologies if I am wrong, but I do sense you have some axe to grind with us, from your tone.

I still couldn\\'t figure your interests because you didn\\'t engage further in our earlier discussions. It would be good if you can give us your feedback.

Sincerely yours

Kelvin_Teo on Sat, 6th Jun 2009 4:05 pm

Dear Tongtong:

I still couldn\\'t figure your interests because you didn\\'t engage further in our earlier discussions. It would be good if you can give us your feedback.

Sincerely yours

Other Reviews

Proper Reasons for Orchard Flood, please
Authorities have switched their official explanation for the cause of ...

Did he obstruct justice or did he not?
AN usual situation has developed between Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) ...

Should new citizens serve compulsory time at the grassroots level?
Much has been said about the integration of immigrants and ...

OTHER NEWS HEADLINE

Feature

Sandcastle: a refreshing effort by Boo Junfeng
by Melissa Koh