Births falling, but don't blame the Tiger

"Economic downturn more likely behind dip than 'inauspicious' year", The Straits Times, 27 Nov 2010, pg 1.

Often effects of living in an modern urban environment invariably causes birth rates to be low. This observation is seen across a wide section of cities all around the world. What then are the effects? Popular issues include the many distraction, high cost or living, lack of support, too much expectations on limited resources. In "People Power", The Straits Times article dated 31 Dec 2010, pg A18 it was stated that the fertility rate is 1.10 children per woman and the median age as 39.6 with life expectancy at 82.1 for the Singapore population. These figures are startling considering the general call by the government to produce more against a backdrop of emerging countries to produce less.

In sustaining families, it has come to expect the extended family plays an important role by which siblings and grandparents offer a means of support. Still for many, such roles are outsourced to domestic helpers or child-care centres as the extended family is incapable in fulfilling the roles required. With the certain decline in population numbers from later marriages and child bearing; it thus creates a paradox where families are increasing dependent on the extended family and yet required to perform full time employment to meet the growing need for present and future living necessities (The Straits Times, Forum, "Having a Child", 11 Dec 2010, pg A44).

Pressure is plied on family units to meet rising cost and the likely prospect of diminished future returns. Families realise that the dwindling resource pool of descendants and are likely to encounter insufficiencies to provide for even an individual own needs (The Straits Times, 11 Dec 2010, pg B20). For these families, cannibalising future resources to attend to current economic situation is a highly probable proposition.

To address issues of continual economic sustenance, the Government has in principle decided that it is unrealistic to retire and therefore would prefer obliterating such a concept. However, older workers would find difficulties in work placement and without employers insisting of pay cuts. An example of a documented case is Singapore Airlines where it intents to cut the pay of serving pilots who are 62 years or older. (The Sunday Times, Nov 20, 2010.)

Sensing a grim future and portrayal by popular media of high society material lifestyles, families are often deluded into thinking that hard work no longer pays handsome dividends and therefore sought out ways toward instant self-enrichment and gratification.

Dreams of a comfortable life based on hard work alone has therefore vapourised when increases in transport impact the Cost of Living Index and Consumer Price Index significantly. The time will come again when families take on a second job to fulfill current economic needs for the future. Many also now see gambling as a way out of misery since it offers the greatest hope. Societal values will change to see gambling as being acceptable as it relieves pain and fulfill winner/rich man fantasies. Perhaps, this is the reason for emptying bank accounts to gamble, with terms of "Hope" and "Dreams" becoming synonymous with gambling and with the general heartland population.

In an earlier parliamentary address, an existing Member of Parliament and union leader criticized CPF account holders for encashing Singapore Shares to purchase lottery tickets. While the motive was well intended, it indicates a certain level of disconnect with grassroots. It was said that such sums should be retained in the CPF accounts to form the long term saving pool. However, no one has taken cognisance of the hope element that plays an important role with heartlanders. For heartlanders, the matter is still very much one of roti, kaya and coffee and if all these are out of reach then just hope and prayer.

The largely liberal immigration policy has caused a reasonable among of confusion with respect to competitiveness and GDP contribution. The common belief is that foreign talents while needed are not totally necessary or indispensable. The problem is accentuated by the Singapore Government inability to explain the correlation between immigration issue and national growth. This indicate a simplistic approach to immigration. The obvious deduction is that foreign talents are needed to address the shortfall for industries from falling birth rates.

What was a stop gap measures has since become chronic as fewer and fewer babies are born and the general population starting families later. The Government has so far not able to suss out the problem for the aging population and cost of living. To that end, it has lead Singapore Citizens to become frustrated with Foreign Talent and the Government.

The frustration is manifested by foreign talent competing directly for jobs and thereby depressing salaries in the labour market. The underlining cause may not be Singapore citizens are "unused" to foreigners and their cultural differences as popular media suggests, but rather Singapore citizen see foreigners as achieving their dreams in Singapore while our dreams are withering away. Common examples are the lifestyle choices, the number of homes, type of goods purchased. The common belief is also that foreign talent will continue to live the dream upon return to their home country. To that end, the Singapore Citizen feel short changed and would rather emigrate as the Singapore Dream becomes more and more unattainable.

Another related issue to aging and birth rate is medical. Government often assures that no one who needs medical treatment would be denied of it. With rising cost, Singapore Citizens are less assured since government has often cited the use of commercial schemes to pay for one's medical bills. Insurance and commercial schemes are revenue generating and thus have vested interest in maintaining profits rather than ensuring the best treatment available for a patient. This mentality percolates to care-giver and the patient and patient family eventually creating a cycle where economic concerns weigh on treatment and end of life issues.

In time to come, there is no certainty Singapore citizen would be able to afford proper treatment in a case where funding heath and medical care remain in commercially managed entities.

Age related ailments are likely to surface over time with chronic cases requiring continual care way past retirement age. With diminishing income, and rising need for treatment, the overall care and treatment would therefore be impeded as commercial schemes would by then become expensive to maintain and the amount in disbursements becoming more and more scares . A situation will arise where poor patients will receive poor quality of treatment and spend a fair amount on money on unnecessary drugs and where effort is put in for wealthier patient.

In terms of funding for health and medical care, there are indication to show that policy implementation has shifted or in the process of shifting to private sector. This is manifested by insurance companies responding to questions on schemes to finance and take responsibility for cost of treatment. It is believed that such responsibilities remain with the government and that it should not sub-contract it to private sector enterprises.

This revelation provides a grim outlook of things to come in 10 to 20 years time as more and more face rising costs and the prospect of living alone. Nevertheless, it is believed that Government can do more for the public. Firstly in achieving their dreams then to assume the leading role in financing and maintaining ahealth and medical care system. Citizens should also voice their concerns now before it is casted in stone.

Reference

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC101203-0000228/Maintain-prudence-and-discipline--PM-Lee (link expired)

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_614993.html (link expired)

Teo, You Yenn; Online Straits Times, "Having kids not just a personal choice", http://www.straitstimes.com/Review/Others/STIStory_628618.html (last viewed Jan 27, 2011)

Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent, "Concerns over medical costs and 'silver tsunami',
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_635110.html (last viewed Feb 23, 2011)