Time to wean the people off expecting goodies from the Budget?

WITH just over two weeks until the Budget speech is delivered on Feb 18, the annual round of pre-event punditry has begun. Predictions range from safe bets, such as continued support for economic restructuring, to longer shots, such as a review of guidelines on skilled foreign workers.

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat has himself provided helpful foreshadowing, highlighting education, healthcare, security and defence, and transforming the economy as key focus areas for Singapore Budget 2019.

Yet one recurring element in economists' and experts' Budget predictions has been understandably absent from official messaging: the question of whether this Budget will sweeten the ground for upcoming elections - due by April 2021 - through fiscal largesse in the form of tax breaks, rebates or cash handouts.