Rallying the family as the cornerstone of the refreshed Singaporean dream
While the country has to accept its low fertility rate and reshape its gender norms, a purposeful, robust immigration policy also has to be a part of its population strategy
SINGAPORE’S population policy was writ large in Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s maiden National Day Rally on Aug 18. Tellingly, the words “population” or “immigration” were not mentioned in his speech.
But the policy changes that he heralded for the economy, housing and education revolved around the families, the renewed social compact, and the refreshed Singaporean dream. Confidence about Singapore’s future is their common ground.
Such confidence ultimately has to be grounded in the young and not-so-young alike, being optimistic that Singapore has an unbounded future and a thriving population at ease with the direction of travel in sustaining the country politically and economically with the requisite socio-cultural vigour and verve.
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