Middle-class populism in Singapore?: situation brief

  • Policy announcements: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced policies to support the middle class, address societal concerns, and maintain social stability in Singapore.
  • Housing Affordability: Enhanced subsidies and adjusted income ceilings aim to make public housing more accessible for middle-income families, addressing the rising costs of private housing.
  • Healthcare and Social Security: Increased healthcare subsidies and expanded CPF contributions are designed to ease the financial burden on the middle class, particularly in the face of rising medical costs.
  • Education and Skills Development: Expanded subsidies for skills upgrading and lifelong learning seek to boost middle-class workers’ adaptability in a rapidly changing economy, ensuring continued upward mobility.
  • Cost of Living Relief: Targeted financial relief, such as utility bill rebates and tax reliefs, aims to mitigate the pressures of rising living costs on middle-income households.
  • Social Cohesion and Inequality: These policies aim to address middle-class disillusionment and prevent social fractures by ensuring economic opportunities remain accessible and social harmony is maintained amidst growing inequality.
Continue reading “Middle-class populism in Singapore?: situation brief”

The Trump-Vance Ticket — populist economics to the fore : situation update

Summary

  • The selection of JD Vance as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential nominee signals a potential shift or reinforcement of certain economic and trade policies.
  • Vance, known for his populist stances and advocacy for the working class, aligns closely with many of Trump’s economic viewpoints.
  • This partnership likely suggests a future direction characterised by protectionist trade policies and a focus on reviving American manufacturing.
  • It indicates a strong desire among the electorate for policies that reclaim economic sovereignty, which is also reflected by the overlap between populist right and left economic policies
Continue reading “The Trump-Vance Ticket — populist economics to the fore : situation update”