Reclaiming Singapore's ‘Growth with Equity’ Social Compact

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
LILY ZUBAIDAH RAHIM
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Population Policy ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Income Disparity ◽  
Public Intellectuals ◽  
Cost Of Living ◽  
Income Disparities ◽  
Social Compact ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSingapore's long-serving People's Action Party (PAP) government suffered from a major electoral setback in the 2011 general election and subsequent by-elections. The high-growth population policy, underpinned by the influx of migrants and foreign workers, has strongly fuelled the groundswell of public discontent and is commonly perceived to have contributed to widening income disparities, wage stagnation, and cost of living pressures. This article attempts to make sense of the PAP leadership's dogged commitment to the high-growth population policy despite the electoral backlashes and policy criticisms by prominent public intellectuals and others closely connected to the PAP establishment. It considers Singapore's high-growth population policy and widening income disparity within the context of the authoritarian developmental state's shift away from the ‘growth with equity’ social compact. The article also examines the impact of widening income inequality and other policy lapses on the legitimacy of the PAP government as the clamor for a renewed social compact based on ‘growth with equity’ gathers momentum in the repoliticized polity.

TRADE UNIONS, UNEMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND INCOME INEQUALITY

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 404-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juin-jen Chang ◽  
Hsiao-wen Hung
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Labor Income ◽  
Intensive Margin ◽  
Ambiguous Effect ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect

In this paper, unemployment, growth, and income inequality are interdependent and endogenously determined in a unified model of a trade union. Analytically, we show that the effective labor force exhibits an intensive margin response, in the sense that in response to higher unionization the number of employed workers decreases, but each individual employed worker provides more working hours. This intensive margin response leads to the possibility of the coexistence of high unemployment and high growth. Moreover, unionization gives rise to an ambiguous effect on income inequality, whereas it has an unambiguously positive effect on the labor income share and growth rate. Our numerical study shows that the elasticity of substitution between labor and capital plays an important role in governing the steady-state consequences and affecting the impact of (de-) unionization. These results provide not only a plausible explanation of the empirical evidence, but also a reconciliation for the disparity in the empirical findings.

scholarly journals Rural Income Distribution in Pakistan in the Green Revolution Perspective

1973 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ghaffar Chaudhry
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Green Revolution ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Less Developed Countries ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Income Disparities ◽  
Land Owners ◽  
Rural Income ◽  
Income Inequalities ◽  
The Impact

Relatively higher income disparities are regarded as the characteristic phenomenon of the less developed countries and as a rule, the income concen¬tration increases with economic growth during early stages of development [ll,p.25]. In general, the more rapid the growth during early stages, the more intense the development of income inequality. The underlying reasons for this development are two. First, the development-conscious governments of the less developed countries, in order to raise investment, allow income dis¬parities to widen. Second, the resource mobilization policies often lag behind and fail to cope with the continuing growth process and the resources tend to concentrate among resource owners. Since spectacular growth in Pakistan has been experienced under the green revolution, it was thought that the green revolution might lead to magnification of income inequalities in rural West Pakistan. Falcon [5,Pp, 698-710] remarks that the green revolution might generate unprecedented income inequalities among the rural classes. Gotsch [6, p. 28] argues that since the green revolution technologies (e.g., tractors, tubewells, seed and fertilizer) were concentrated in the hands of a few well-to-do farmers, there was a strong tendency for the income inequality to increase. Nigar Ahmad [1, pp.3-4] Rafiq Ahmad [2, pp.5-6] and Dilawar Ali Khan [9, pp.62-83] also hold that the impact of the green revolution technology has been biased in favour of the large land owners.

Thematic maps in the scientific studies of the moon

2019 ◽  
Vol 943 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-75
Author(s):  
S.G. Pugacheva ◽  
E.A. Feoktistova ◽  
V.V. Shevchenko
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Thermal Inertia ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Lunar Soil ◽  
Nature Management ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Surface Cooling ◽  
Laser Altimeters ◽  
Space Infrastructure ◽  
The Impact

The article presents the results of astrophysical studies of the Moon’s reflected and intrinsic radiation. We studied the intensity of the Moon’s infrared radiation and, thus, carried out a detailed research of the brightness temperature of the Moon’s visible disc, estimated the thermal inertia of the coating substance by the rate of its surface cooling, and the degree of the lunar soil fragmentation. Polarimetric, colorimetric and spectrophotometric measurements of the reflected radiation intensity were carried out at different wavelengths. In the article, we present maps prepared based on our measurement results. We conducted theresearch of the unique South Pole – Aitken basin (SPA). The altitude profiles of the Apollo-11 and Zond-8 spacecrafts and the data of laser altimeters of the Apollo-16 and Apollo-15 spacecrafts were used as the main material. Basing upon this data we prepared a hypsometric map of SPA-basing global relief structure. A surface topography map of the Moon’s Southern Hemisphere is given in the article. The topography model of the SPA topography surface shows displacement centers of the altitude topographic rims from the central rim. Basing upon the detailed study of the basin’s topography as well as its “depth-diameter” ratio we suggest that the basin originated from the impact of a giant cometary body from the Orta Cloud. In our works, we consider the Moon as a part of the Earth’s space infrastructure. High growth rates of the Earth’s population, irrational nature management will cause deterioration of scarce natural resources in the near future. In our article, we present maps of the natural resources on the Moon pointing out the most promising regions of thorium, iron, and titanium. Probably in 20 or 40 years a critical mining level of gold, diamonds, zinc, platinum and other vital rocks and metals will be missing on the Earth.

Understanding Rising Income Inequality and Stagnating Ordinary Living Standards in Germany

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Bosch ◽  
Thorsten Kalina
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Wage Bargaining ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Social Model ◽  
Real Wages ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

This chapter describes how inequality and real incomes have evolved in Germany through the period from the 1980s, through reunification, up to the economic Crisis and its aftermath. It brings out how reunification was associated with a prolonged stagnation in real wages. It emphasizes how the distinctive German structures for wage bargaining were eroded over time, and the labour market and tax/transfer reforms of the late 1990s-early/mid-2000s led to increasing dualization in the labour market. The consequence was a marked increase in household income inequality, which went together with wage stagnation for much of the 1990s and subsequently. Coordination between government, employers, and unions still sufficed to avoid the impact the economic Crisis had on unemployment elsewhere, but the German social model has been altered fundamentally over the period

scholarly journals Income Distribution in Turkey during the Global Financial Crisis

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Sinem Sefil-Tansever
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Income Source ◽  
Labor Earnings ◽  
Income Sources ◽  
Gini Decomposition ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Earning Inequality

The aim of this study is to examine mechanism responsible for the behavior of the income and earning inequality in Turkey during the global financial crisis based on data from the 2006 to 2014 Income and Living Conditions Survey. Gini decomposition by income source is employed in order to provide an analysis of the contribution of the various income sources to the evolution of income inequality and to assess the impact of a marginal percentage change in the income from a particular source on income inequality. For examining the contributions of specific variables (education, position in occupation, economic sector) to the interpretation of labor earnings inequality in terms of their gross and marginal contribution, we use static decomposition of Theil T index.

scholarly journals Challenges and Sustainability of China’s Socio-Economic Stability in the Context of Its Demographic Development

Societies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Andrea Čajková ◽  
Peter Čajka
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Pension System ◽  
Population Policy ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Economic Stability ◽  
Demographic Development ◽  
Demographic Challenges ◽  
Family Behavior ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
The Impact

Like many developed countries in the world, China currently faces many serious demographic challenges that pose a potential risk to the country’s socio-economic development and stability. The current demographic development and trend is characterized by a change in the reproductive behavior of the population, characterized by a decline in birth rates, a change in family behavior, and a shift in the value system. This paper is aimed at identifying the impact of population policy and the degree of its influence on both the economic and social system of the country. Based on a deterministic approach, the findings reveal and demonstrate the serious demographic challenges facing China, and we are noting that there is no guarantee that parametric adjustments, such as shifting the retirement age, will de facto ensure the financial health of the pension system by preventing bankruptcy. We point out the risks and prospects for the sustainability of China’s socio-economic development based on an analysis of past and current Chinese demographic policy.

The effects of debt restructurings on income inequality in the developing world

2021 ◽  
pp. 135406612110014
Author(s):  
Glen Biglaiser ◽  
Ronald J. McGauvran
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
Income Distribution ◽  
Government Spending ◽  
Tax Reform ◽  
Social Spending ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Impact

Developing countries, saddled with debts, often prefer investors absorb losses through debt restructurings. By not making full repayments, debtor governments could increase social spending, serving poorer constituents, and, in turn, lowering income inequality. Alternatively, debtor governments could reduce taxes and cut government spending, bolstering the assets of the rich at the expense of the poor. Using panel data for 71 developing countries from 1986 to 2016, we assess the effects of debt restructurings on societal income distribution. Specifically, we study the impact of debt restructurings on social spending, tax reform, and income inequality. We find that countries receiving debt restructurings tend to use their newly acquired economic flexibility to reduce taxes and lower social spending, worsening income inequality. The results are also robust to different model specifications. Our study contributes to the globalization and the poor debate, suggesting the economic harm caused to the less well-off following debt restructurings.

Economic Growth and Foreign Workers in ASEAN and Singapore

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 114-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shandre Mugan Thangavelu
Keyword(s):  
Open Economy ◽  
Wage Gap ◽  
Small Open Economy ◽  
Output Growth ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Domestic Economy ◽  
Unskilled Workers ◽  
Market Trends ◽  
State Growth ◽  
The Impact

This paper studies the trends of foreign immigrants in Asia and their effect on the growth of the Singapore economy. The paper also discusses the key labor market trends and the rationale for foreign workers in a small open economy like Singapore. Further, the paper highlights key simulations of the impact of foreign immigrants on output growth and wage gap for the Singapore economy by using Thangavelu's (2011) dynamic general equilibrium model. The study accounts for the flow of skilled and unskilled foreign workers on (a) steady-state growth; (b) the wage gap between the skilled and unskilled workers; and (c) innovation capabilities of the domestic economy. Further, the model also accounts for the contribution of immigrants on the welfare of the domestic economy through the immigration surplus that will accrue to the domestic economy.

scholarly journals Financial Inclusion, Income Inequality and Sustainable Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan African Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1780
Author(s):  
Chima M. Menyelim ◽  
Abiola A. Babajide ◽  
Alexander E. Omankhanlen ◽  
Benjamin I. Ehikioya
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Kuznets Curve ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Financial Access ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sustainable Economic Growth ◽  
The Impact

This study evaluates the relevance of inclusive financial access in moderating the effect of income inequality on economic growth in 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the period 1995 to 2017. The findings using the Generalised Method of Moments (sys-GMM) technique show that inclusive financial access contributes to reducing inequality in the short run, contrary to the Kuznets curve. The result reveals a negative effect of financial access on the relationship between income inequality and economic growth. There is a positive net effect of inclusive financial access in moderating the impact of income inequality on economic growth. Given the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Targets in the sub-region, policymakers and other stakeholders of the economy must design policies and programmes that would enhance access to financial services as an essential mechanism to reduce income disparity and enhance sustainable economic growth.

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