Hello.
By now, surely even non-Swifties know that Taylor Swift is in town for her six sold-out Eras Tour shows, starting tomorrow night.
That Singapore provided a grant to woo her here – the only Southeast Asian stop in her world tour – has raised debate over the use of taxpayer money and ruffled some feathers in the region. It’s basic Swiftonomics – and a salient example of the need to stay competitive, says NUS Business School’s Samer Elhajjar.
But when parents face pressure to snag pricey concert tickets for their children’s idols, a coveted spot in a desired school, or have difficulties managing work and family commitments, it’s no wonder the cost and stress of having kids are often cited as reasons for not wanting any.
This week, it was announced that Singapore’s resident total fertility rate fell to a record low in 2023, dropping below 1 for the first time, despite a slew of pro-family policies. Singapore needs to make parenthood seem less like the ultimate sacrifice, says the Institute of Policy Studies’ Kalpana Vignehsa.
Is part of the problem the persistent myth of do-it-all motherhood? It’s okay for parents to need a break from their kids from time to time, says mother-of-three and fintech COO Cherie Tseng.
Meanwhile, financial forums are still abuzz with an alphabet soup – OA, SA, RA, BRS, ERS, FRS, SRS – arising from the Budget 2024 announcement that the CPF Special Account will be closed upon reaching age 55. Endowus’ Samuel Rhee says it forces a rethink of retirement planning.
We hope you enjoy our selection of commentaries this week.
Charlene Tan
Senior Editor, Commentary
