PRO-NATALISM - Singapore Flashcards
1
Q
Why does Singapore want to increase population?
A
- Mid 1986 to mid-1987 total fertility rate reached a historic low of 1.44 children. This is well below the replacement rate of 2.1.
- Small population (1.7 million in the 1960s) became seen as a threat to national security.
- Many highly educated families failed to have children. This, combined with a low population, decreases the amnount of innovation and development.
- Low population discouraged MNCs from visiting and investing.
- Life expectancy of 82.1 - facing prospect of an ageing population.
2
Q
How did Singapore carry out its policy?
A
- Grants of $10,000 in the 1960s offered to less educated women who agreed to be sterilised after the birth of their second child. This would help to increase the relative number of educated children. Preferential school admission granted to children whose mothers were university graduates.
- Recently however, compulsory councelling for women planning for ‘abortions of convenience’ or sterilisation with less than three children.
- Starting 1990, a tax rebate of 20,000 SGD were given to mothers who had their second child before the age of 28.
- Large families given priority assignment to Housing and Development Board appartments.
- New organisations: Social Development Unit (SDU) set up to act as a matchmaker for unmarried university graduates.
- Information campaign: Valentines cards distributed through Singapore urging people to ‘Make Love, not Money!’ Singaporeans urged to not ‘passively watch ourselves go extinct’.
- Ability to use Medisave to cover costs of the birth of the first three children.
3
Q
To what extent did the policy work?
A
- Total Fertility Rate stayed well below replacement level of 2.1.
- Averaged 1.9 from 1990 to 1999, 1.4 from 2000 to 2009 period, and 1.2 from 2010 to 2013.
- Policies regarded as intrusive and unfair, especially due to preferential treatment of graduates. Lee Kuan Yew: “[If] you marry a non-graduate, then you are going to worry if your son or daughter is going to make it to the university.”
