Singapore must continue to ensure social mobility for better growth

SINGAPORE is the only Asian country, apart from Japan, which made it to the Top 20 of a new social mobility index that was unveiled at the World Economic Forum at Davos.

The Global Social Mobility Index - which benchmarks 82 global economies - comes at a time when rapid technological advances threaten to widen and further entrench inequality.

Singapore came in 20th, with a score of 74.6 on a 100-point scale. The Nordic nations led the list. Denmark topped the rankings with a social mobility score of 85.2, closely followed by Finland (83.6), Norway (83.6), Sweden (83.5) and Iceland (82.7). These nations combine access, quality and equity in education, while also providing work opportunities and good working conditions, alongside quality social protection and inclusive institutions.