Good Governance. Population Pyramid Singapore’s Population Policy From rapid-growth baby-boom figures during the 1950s and the 1960s to the … 1966.

Good Governance

Population Pyramid

Population Pyramid

Population Pyramid

Singapore’s Population PolicyFrom rapid-growth baby-boom figures during the 1950s

and the 1960s to the …

1966 to 1981 three five-year plans to reduce population growth to the …

Current struggle to bring up declining population levels and replacement rates and finding ways to …

Handle current ageing population problems

Singapore’s Population PolicyLate 1950s to the 1960s:

Post-war baby boom due to peace and stability in Singapore following WW2 as businesses were re-started and employment was abundant

Confidence in the future and the belief that more children meant better financial security in old age

With an average of 6 to 7 children or more per family, the population grew rapidly from 1.02m to 1.64m in a decade

Singapore’s Population PolicyLate 1950s to the 1960s:

In 1965, Singapore became independent and was poised to face many challenges: British military pull-out scheduled for 1971 No raw materials Need to build up industry Need to build up schools Need to build up healthcare system Need to build up infrastructure Need to house a growing population

Singapore’s Population Policy1966 to 1981 (Family Planning Phase)

In 1966, setting up of the SFPPB (Singapore Family Planning and Population Board) to plan population policies with the aim to control population growth:Aimed for 3 Five Year Plans

1966 – Emphasize the need for smaller families1971 – Encouraged married couples to stop at 2 children1976 – Maintain the replacement level at 2.1 children


In addition, various measures to assist the 5 year plans were put in place:Encouraging contraception and making it

available for purchaseLegalised abortionCampaigns


In addition, various measures to assist the 5 year plans were put in place:No paid maternity leave to be given to the 3rd and subsequent

childrenNo priority to be given to large families in the allocating of

government (HDB) flatsNo income tax relief to be given for the 4th and subsequent

childrenDelivery charges in hospitals to be increased with each

additional child


Was extremely successful:1980 – Fertility rate was 1.82 per woman

Family planning policy to reduce birth rate had worked

Was not that successful:Fertility rate was below replacement levelOther factors at play for a decrease in births:

Increasing living costsChange of mindsets towards career, marriage and large

families

Singapore’s Population PolicyTo what extent were Singapore’s Family Planning policies a

success? Explain your answer. [12m]Step 1: Explain that they were successful

1980 – Fertility rate was 1.82 per woman Family planning policy to reduce birth rate had worked

Step 2: Explain that they were not that successful Fertility rate was below replacement level Other factors at play for a decrease in births:

Increasing living costs Change of mindsets towards career, marriage and large families

Step 3: Weighing

Singapore’s Population Policy1980s and beyond (Declining Birth

Rate)Why was there a need to promote population

growth from the 1980s?Declining Birth Rate from the 1980sUnattractive to MNCs (Multi-National Companies)Ageing PopulationDefence Needs

Singapore’s Population Policy1980s and beyond (Declining Birth Rate)

Why was there a need to promote population growth from the 1980s? Declining Birth Rate from the 1980s

Fertility rate was at 1.82 (below replacement rate) Rising cost of living Changing Attitudes:

Higher educational prospects for women resulted in them marrying later and focusing on their careers

Young couples want time together and decide on having children later Changing attitudes towards marriage and large families Dragon Year versus unpopular years Economic uncertainties


Why was there a need to promote population growth from the 1980s?Unattractive to MNCs

Not enough talented people to work in MNCs and sustain their development in Singapore

More expensive to recruit Singaporeans because of short supply and therefore MNCs may move to cheaper hiring destinations like India and China where the labour market is bigger

Singaporeans would also become a less attractive consumer market


Why was there a need to promote population growth from the 1980s?Ageing Population

Fewer births mean fewer young people in future population figures to counter the large amount of older people from the baby boom period

More resources would be needed to take care of the ageing population and less resources would be available for other sectors


Why was there a need to promote population growth from the 1980s?Defence

With fewer young people, there would be less men to serve the nation

Singapore would be weakened in terms of defence capability

Move towards Army 3G to counter a drop in human resources


How did the government promote population growth after the 1980s?Graduate Mothers SchemeThree or More if You Can Afford ItOther Pro-Family MeasuresAttracting Foreign Talent


How did the government promote population growth after the 1980s?Graduate Mothers Scheme

Research undertaken showed that the children of university graduates tended to perform better in schools

As a result, PM Lee (LKY) felt that female graduates should have more children so that the new generation workforce would be better educated


How did the government promote population growth after the 1980s?Graduate Mothers Scheme

In 1984, the GMS was introduced to encourage marriages among graduates and to encourage them to have more children

GMS sparked off a debate and unhappiness because non-graduates were unhappy as they were neglected under the policy

The GMS was scrapped in 1985


How did the government promote population growth after the 1980s?Three or More if You Can Afford It

Amendment of the 1987 population policy and aimed to bring back the replacement level of 2.1 children

Instead of discouraging large families, parents were encouraged to have three or more children if they could afford it



Due to the 1985 recession and the retrenchment of workers by MNCs, the government also wanted couples to only have children if they could afford it and not contribute to social problems if they were to have another child and not be able to cope financially



The government also introduced measures like allowing the use of Medisave to pay for the deliveries of the first 3 children

LIMITED SUCCESSFertility rate rose from 1.48 to 1.96 in 1988From 1988 fell from 1.96 to 1.24 in 2004



Publicity campaigns also failed to inspire couples to have more than one child

Later marriagesLowest birth rate


How did the government promote population growth after the 1980s?Other Pro-Family Measures

To help with the high cost of raising children and the lack of suitable childcare facilities:Equalised medical benefits – Mothers could now

make claims for their children5-day work week – To allow for a better work-life

balance


How did the government promote population growth after the 1980s?Other Pro-Family Measures

To help with the high cost of raising children and the lack of suitable childcare facilities:Grandparent Caregiver Relief – Tax relief for

grandparents who took care of childrenExtended paid maternity leave – (from 8 weeks to 12

weeks)


How did the government promote population growth after the 1980s?Attracting Foreign Talent

Enhance Singapore’s competitivenessRelaxed immigration policy from 1989 making it easier

to obtain Singapore citizenshipSubsidised housingAttractive education packages for children

Singapore’s Population PolicyAgeing Population

Singapore’s population will age quickly over the next 30 years because:Post-war baby boomers will hit 65 in 2030 … Declining birth rate from the 1980s … proportion of

young working adults is shrinking and proportion of elderly is increasing

Increased standard of living and better healthcare … Singaporeans live longer

I don’twant to be

BORN…Go Away!

Singapore’s Population PolicyAgeing Population

An ageing population will affect Singapore in the following ways:Greater demand for healthcare and social servicesSmaller defence forcesStrain on the working populationLess competitive against other developing countries

Singapore’s Population PolicyMeasures taken to deal with an Ageing

Population:Senior Citizens as Assets to Society“Many Helping Hands” Approach

IndividualFamilyCommunityGovernment


Population:Senior Citizens as Assets to Society

Valuable knowledge, skills, work experience and talentThey can still contribute to public and private

organisations and family life


Population:“Many Helping Hands” Approach

Sharing of responsibility to take care of senior citizens and cutting down on government’s burden



IndividualHealthy lifestyle (to reduce medical

expenditure)Financial planning for retirement



Family SupportEmotional, Social and Financial supportStrengthen family bondsAnnual Senior Citizens’ Week – Encourage the

elderly to stay active, promote a positive attitude towards ageing



Family SupportGrandparents’ Day to bring families together

and show appreciation for the elderly



Community HelpGovernment gives subsidies to voluntary

welfare organisations to run community-based services for the elderly: free health checks, befriender services, recreational activities



Government SupportLaws and measures to protect the rights and interests of

the elderlyTribunal for the Maintenance of ParentsTax ReliefCPFPublic Housing Schemes

Potential Essay QuestionTo what extent is the government responsible

for preparing the country for an ageing population? Explain your answer. [12m]L3 – Explain what the government does to

prepare the country for an ageing populationL4 – Explain what others do to prepare the

country for an ageing population (Individual, Family, Community)

L5 – Weigh extent to which the government prepares the country for an ageing population versus what others do

Good Governance. Population Pyramid Singapore’s Population Policy From rapid-growth baby-boom figures during the 1950s and the 1960s to the … 1966.

Documents

population growth

population policies

population board

declining population

family planning phasewas

successful fertility

womanfamily planning

successful1980 fertility