Building capabilities with a social bent

THE first hint of the emphasis of Budget 2014 came not from the discussions in Parliament, but from how the logo on its official website had changed.

I remember Budget 2013 featured a silhouette of two adults and two children (denoting its family focus). The logo for Budget 2014 added a person with a walking stick, next to the family of four. Both are a clear contrast from Budget 2012 (the first year that logos were introduced) - which featured a silhouette of a city skyline, in line with its emphasis on workfare and growth.

The message is clear: the emphasis is to continue building Singapore's medium-term capability, albeit with a social bent - this time, taking care not just of family, but the elder generation too.