Singapore : Low birth rate vs Cost of living
Q. The low birth rates in Singapore are due mainly to the high costs of living. To what extent is it true?
Introduction:
Singapore is experiencing a low birth rate that is currently at ~1.29 TFR. This is below the replacement level of 2.1 and has been so for more than three decades (Singapore 's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) increased from 1.20 in 2011 to 1.29 in 2012. This is according to the Population in Brief Report 2013 released by the National Population and Talent Division in the Prime Minister 's Office, 2013, Para 3)
(https://www.google.com.sg/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&met_y=sp_dyn_tfrt_in&hl=en&dl=en&idim=country:SGP:JPN:USA#!ctype=l&strail=false&bcs=d&nselm=h&met_y=sp_dyn_tfrt_in&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=region&idim=country:SGP&ifdim=region&tstart=27532800000&tend=1321372800000&hl=en_US&dl=en&ind=false )
The low birth rates in Singapore are causing its government to adopt the open-door policy towards foreigner to make up for the declining birth rate and this is causing displeasure towards the government among its citizen.
Falling birth rate are also affecting its citizens as the ratio of working-age citizens to elderly citizen is shrinking. Thus, more money is needed by the government through ways like higher taxes to build or improve infrastructure around the island to be more elderly friendly, to subsidise healthcare services, etc.
Factors leading to low birth rate:
Higher cost of living:
According to the press release on a survey held by Mercer (AFRICAN, EUROPEAN AND ASIAN CITIES DOMINATES THE TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE LOCATIONS FOR EXPATRIATES, 2013, Para 2), Singapore has been ranked fifth for the top 10 costliest cities for expatriates. Couples are more unwilling to have children due to the fact that the hospitalisation and delivery can be very costly. And also the cost of raising a child up till secondary school is being estimated to be at $276 400. The current baby bonus disburses a cash gift of $6000 each for the
Introduction:
Singapore is experiencing a low birth rate that is currently at ~1.29 TFR. This is below the replacement level of 2.1 and has been so for more than three decades (Singapore 's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) increased from 1.20 in 2011 to 1.29 in 2012. This is according to the Population in Brief Report 2013 released by the National Population and Talent Division in the Prime Minister 's Office, 2013, Para 3)
(https://www.google.com.sg/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&met_y=sp_dyn_tfrt_in&hl=en&dl=en&idim=country:SGP:JPN:USA#!ctype=l&strail=false&bcs=d&nselm=h&met_y=sp_dyn_tfrt_in&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=region&idim=country:SGP&ifdim=region&tstart=27532800000&tend=1321372800000&hl=en_US&dl=en&ind=false )
The low birth rates in Singapore are causing its government to adopt the open-door policy towards foreigner to make up for the declining birth rate and this is causing displeasure towards the government among its citizen.
Falling birth rate are also affecting its citizens as the ratio of working-age citizens to elderly citizen is shrinking. Thus, more money is needed by the government through ways like higher taxes to build or improve infrastructure around the island to be more elderly friendly, to subsidise healthcare services, etc.
Factors leading to low birth rate:
Higher cost of living:
According to the press release on a survey held by Mercer (AFRICAN, EUROPEAN AND ASIAN CITIES DOMINATES THE TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE LOCATIONS FOR EXPATRIATES, 2013, Para 2), Singapore has been ranked fifth for the top 10 costliest cities for expatriates. Couples are more unwilling to have children due to the fact that the hospitalisation and delivery can be very costly. And also the cost of raising a child up till secondary school is being estimated to be at $276 400. The current baby bonus disburses a cash gift of $6000 each for the
References: Singapore 's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) increased from 1.20 in 2011 to 1.29 in 2012. This is according to the Population in Brief Report 2013 released by the National Population and Talent Division in the Prime Minister 's Office, Singapore 's Total Fertility Rate up to 1.29 in 2012, 2013, http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-s-total/827740.html, 26 Sep 2013 Department of Statistics Singapore. 2013 Key Household Income Trends, 2012: Household Income. Singapore: Department of Statistics Singapore. http://www.singstat.gov.sg/Publications/publications_and_papers/household_income_and_expenditure/pp-s19.pdf