Fertility rate

[ksl]

http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/ar ... id=4583001

Sure looks like there is a problem of contradiction by the government, seeing that they are turning away many foreigners! Or the smoke screen is in place just for the elections

[sundaymorningstaple]

That's old hat. I've been writing about it here for several years now. Nobody's blowing any smoke screen. The problem is that the government is trying to replenish the diminishing work force the only way possible to keep productivity up. Immigration. Unfortunately the remaining selfish Singaporeans who won't have children are the same people whinging about too many foreigner. The gahmen are afraid they are going to complain at the ballot box, and that's the real problem.

[ScoobyDoes]

Okay but who takes the chance of having kids when things are just so darned expensive even for us right now, not even extrapolated 10 or 20-yrs from now.

They just raised college tuition fees last week as an example. That's the problem.

Putting a couple of hundred foreign workers in a dorm is a 'work-around' not a solution to labour problems. I appreciate it's a bit chicken'n'egg story but there doesn't seem to be any long term plans these days, everything is reactionary.

On birth rate, a population needs to see a long term plan whereby they know it won't cost them the income of three generations just to send little Dilbert to Engineering College. Then they need to know there will be work for him to do.

[JayCee]

On birth rate, a population needs to see a long term plan whereby they know it won't cost them the income of three generations just to send little Dilbert to Engineering College. Then they need to know there will be work for him to do.

Just wondering, but do you think the local population here are really that forward thinking and that's the reason they don't have kids?

My own guess would be that if they had kids they couldn't afford a new car or the latest apple gadgets and so their real priorities in life take over, but I could be wrong.

[sundaymorningstaple]

And that's hitting the nail on the head. Unfortunately it's starting to extend to most countries except to poorest who cannot afford the electronic gadgets to keep the mememeers satisfied sooo...

they have to play with their wives instead, hence the higher birthrates in poorer countries.

[Steve-R]

So the baby bonus isn't working?

My first child was born a couple weeks ago and it's crazy how much it cost. Why do medical benefits here not cover medical costs of having a baby?

It seems most of my local coworkers start their families when they are in their upper 30's and tend to only have one child. People comment on how young I am to start a family and I'm already 31. My younger brother in the U.S. just had his 3rd kid last month. My son already has nine cousins and another one on the way.

I wouldn't trade my baby boy for a car ever. I'm happy taking the bus home to see my son each day!

Steve

[ksl]

SMS:Unfortunately it's starting to extend to most countries except to poorest who cannot afford the electronic gadgets to keep the mememeers satisfied sooo...

This also applies to Singaporeans on low income, that cannot afford all the electronic gadgets!

It is pretty obvious that if you want the good education in Singapore it means, paying through the nose for private tuition. The education system in Singapore is a failure to the majority, who are on low income and cannot support their children in the race for good results.

This competitive system is biased and unfair, against the poorest families. It makes me sick to see it happen, though its either pay up for tuition or get left behind.

The school teachers are failing in my opinion to deliver in good standards of discipline, in fact discipline is non existent in some schools. It is all left to the parents to improve their children, the schools are more into brainwashing harmony between races and christanity in some schools.

Yes I do pay for private extra tuition for my daughter because it does pay off, with better results...But why should a Country have to rely on private tuition to raise the standard? My daughter is in local school and i do agree with the parents of children, that cannot afford the extra tuition that they their children cannot compete.

Its normally the majority of voters that are in the poorest of positions, receiving subsidies, and contributing to the population with 2 or 3 children, just like in any welfare state, however the questions hang over these families, of how to educate their children in a private competing market.

My thoughts would be to subsidize these poor families private education needs, and possibly allow them more benefits, to compete with middle class values, with subsidies being cut after university.

The Singapore government is rich enough to do it. The biggest problem for any family is long term security and this is not happening for expats and PR's so why suffer the risk of raising children here, only to be terminated. The threat of take citizenship or lose your PR is a real one!

There is talent in the poorest families of Singaporeans it is just neglected, based on theories that they can import the talent and control it. and yes they can at a cost of fertility.

An academic lead country with no experience in poverty will never grasp the reality, that poor families have talent. They need to nurture what they have and it just isn't happening...so the distance between rich and poor just grows in my opinion.

[nakatago]

they have to play with their wives instead, hence the higher birthrates in poorer countries.

that and the centuries-ingrained thinking that children, by themselves, are wealth or gifts from god or that they'd bring them prosperity not thinking they have to invest in the welfare of the same children.

singaporeans most probably know this already and just don't want to bother with all that trouble of investing in a child's welfare.

[ScoobyDoes]

Just wondering, but do you think the local population here are really that forward thinking and that's the reason they don't have kids?

My own guess would be that if they had kids they couldn't afford a new car or the latest apple gadgets and so their real priorities in life take over, but I could be wrong.

Actually I do, and if you saw the interview with a young Joe on the news yesterday evening then he said exactly as I pointed out. Now, whether he believes the reason or not is another thing, not wanting to appear selfish in front of the camera saying he preferred holidays, cars or iPods.

The fact is it was in his head at all so yes, I am do believe many think as i suggested.