Rising global economic tide may not lift Singapore's boat

Singapore

THE global outlook is forecast to improve in the coming year but Singapore may not be riding that wave.

Economists cited several structural hurdles for the disconnect between global growth prospects and Singapore's trade and export-oriented economy.

Any benefits the Republic can reap from a brighter 2017 world economy will also be tempered by the health of its economy. "This time it's different," said Francis Tan, UOB economist. "Unlike in the past where there seemed to be quite a correlation between global growth and Singapore's growth, sadly there's a disjoint now."

The World Bank…