Population policies : Singapore

Question 1

Define pro-natalist policies

Answer 1

A governmental policy aimed at increasing the birth rate by encouraging the population to have more children.

Question 2

Define anti-natalist policies

Answer 2

A governmental policy aimed at lowering the birth rate

Question 3

Anti-natalist policy :

1) Reasons

Answer 3

• Singapore had an anti-natalist policy that ran between 1955 and 1984.
• Aim was to improve political stability as less people meant less conflict and less pressure on resources.
• It would raise living standards, health care per person would be better and unemployment would reduce.

Question 4

Anti-natalist policy :

2) Tactics

Answer 4

• Making contraceptives available at a low cost
• Creating family planning clinics to help make advice more available
• Publicising through the media the advantages of having a smaller family
• Introducing financial incentives for smaller families ( e.g. such as free education and health care benefits ). The financial support stopped with larger families.

Question 5

Anti-natalist policy :

3) Effects

Answer 5

• Fertility rate has dropped to 1.2 in 2011.
• Insufficient workers to fill job vacancies because of the decrease in the birth rate.
• An aging population.
• Change in birth rate was more dramatic because it was also caused by the increasing development of Singapore, meaning that more women followed careers rather than starting a family. It meant the birth rate fell because of factors not directly caused by the policy.

Question 6

Pro-natalist policy :

1) Reasons

Answer 6

• Singapore has a pro-natalist policy that has been running from 1984 - present.
• Workforce had become too small, and the economy was being damaged.
• Singapore was left with a smaller armed forces and was more vulnerable to attack / weak national defence
• Aging population meant pressure on hospitals and higher costs to the government to look after them.
• Less workers meant less tax coming in from the workforce.

Question 7

Pro-natalist policy :

2) Tactics

Answer 7

• The phrase ‘ have three or more children if you can afford it ‘ was promoted by the government.
• Financial benefits were given to encourage female graduates to have more than three children.
• A baby bonus scheme was introduced, which gave cash incentives to new mothers.
• Singapore also introduced a carer’s leave ( paternity leave ) for fathers.
• Other attempts to increase the birth rate has been to send out Valentine cards encouraging people to ‘ make love, not money ‘
• They also arrange weekend cruises to help match-make potential couples.

Question 8

Pro-natalist policy :

3) Effects

Answer 8

• Fertility rate is still low at 1.4 because people want the choice and flexibility
• These schemes have yet to be proved successful.