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The rich-poor divide has been growing steadily over the past few years. This divide has resulted in large differences in the levels of income, education, and the opportunities to access information and resources, between the privileged and underprivileged groups in society. This trend of increasing inequality will invariably leave many trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty, and create a myriad of social problems that will potentially afflict many more generations to come. Participants will examine the nature, extent, and reasons for this current rich-poor divide, both in Singapore, as well as in the world. They will also examine and evaluate measures that have been adopted to bridge this gap and will propose insights into what youths can do to address this global challenge, and help to break this vicious cycle of poverty, to bridge the rich-poor divide. Here are some relevant resources you can refer to. (A) Global Poverty - List of countries by income equality
- Non Sequitur Economics II: The Gini in Arabian Nights
- Revisiting the Gini Index
- China’s Gini Coefficient and Market Economy
- UN Report on Cities and Income Gap
- Average monthly household income grows at fastest pace in 10 years
- Microfinance initiative worldwide
- The World Bank
- Asian Development Bank
- Rich & Poor-Disparities, Perceptions and Concomitants
- Evaluation and Poverty Reduction
- Power and Society: An Introduction to Social Sciences
(B) Singapore Context (Websites) - Singapore: The Challenges of Success
- Income inequality in Singapore: Causes, Consequences and Policy Actions
- Health Promotion Board
- Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
- Community Development Councils
- National Council of Social Service
- Singapore International Foundation
- Singapore Government Assistance Schemes
(C) Other resources - Local Case Study - "They once slept on the streets"
- MBAs Without Borders donate skills to end poverty cycle
- Income Inequality in Singapore: Causes, Consequences and Policy Options
- Youthink! But do you know?
- Budget Speech '09: Supporting families
| 1. List of countries by income equality | | This is a list of countries or dependencies by income inequality metrics, including Gini coefficients, according to the United Nations (UN) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). | | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality | Wikipedia. 2008. List of countries by income equality. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 2. Non Sequitur Economics II: The Gini in Arabian Nights | In a recent Citigroup report by Chua Hak Bin who suggests that a dual track economy is emerging in Singapore. In that report, Chua and his colleagues made an argument using the Gini coefficient to justify that income inequality has risen as a result.
The Gini coefficient has become a discussion topic among bloggers and journalists on the issue of income inequality in Singapore. The question is: just how conclusive is the Gini coefficient in providing the silver bullet to illustrate income inequality? | | http://www.singaporeangle.com/2007/01/non_sequitur_economics_ii_the.html | Singapore Angle. 2007. Non Sequitur Economics II: The Gini in Arabian Nights. [Online] [Updated 23 Jan 2007]
Available at http://www.singaporeangle.com/2007/01/non_sequitur_economics_ii_the.html [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 3. Revisiting the Gini Index | | An occasional paper on income statistics entitled "Key Household Income Trends" is released today from SingStat. Two interesting issues are discussed in this paper: (i) the impact of the recent Progress package to the lower income households and (ii) the calculation of Gini coefficient with the income data adjusted with government benefits and taxes. Matching our earlier argument (see Reynolds "Income and Wealth"), the Gini coefficient has dropped from 0.472 to 0.439 (adjusted with government taxes and benefits included) in the year 2006 (as compared to 0.468 in 2005). | | http://perspectives.singaporeangle.com/2007/02/revisiting_the_gini_index.html | Singapore Angle. 2007. Revisiting the Gini Index. [Online] [Updated 12 Feb 2007]
Available at http://perspectives.singaporeangle.com/2007/02/revisiting_the_gini_index.html [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 4. China’s Gini Coefficient and Market Economy | | The difference between market economy and planned economy is that the former is centered on equality of individual (right) while the latter focuses on equality of the economy (income). In the former case, as one individual differs from another in that each has his own level of capability and share of luck, this inevitably leads to unequal distribution of income. In the latter case, equality in the economy is achieved by suppressing the more talented individuals, at the expense of individual right equality. | | http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=816&Itemid=324 | Asia Sentinel Consulting. 2007. China’s Gini Coefficient and Market Economy. [Online] [Updated 14 Aug 2007]
Available at http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=816&Itemid=324 [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 5. UN Report on Cities and Income Gap | | The difference between market economy and planned economy is that the former is centered on equality of individual (right) while the latter focuses on equality of the economy (income). In the former case, as one individual differs from another in that each has his own level of capability and share of luck, this inevitably leads to unequal distribution of income. In the latter case, equality in the economy is achieved by suppressing the more talented individuals, at the expense of individual right equality. | | http://www.pressrun.net/weblog/2008/10/un-report-on-cities-and-income-gaps.html | Pressrun: Blowin' In The Wind. 2008. UN Report on Cities and Income Gap. [Online] [Updated 24 Oct 2008]
Available at http://www.pressrun.net/weblog/2008/10/un-report-on-cities-and-income-gaps.html [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 6. Average monthly household income grows at fastest pace in 10 years | Income inequality in Singapore widened last year to its most pronounced state since at least the year 2000, with some high-income households enjoying big pay increases while the less well-off saw more modest wage gains, according to a report released yesterday by the Singapore Department of Statistics.
On average, almost everyone is somewhat better off than they were. Among Singapore resident households with at least one working member, average monthly income from work rose 9.1 per cent to $6,830 in 2007, from $6,260 the previous year, the fastest growth in the last decade, the report said. | | http://sgpropertypress.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/average-monthly-household-income-grows-at-fastest-pace-in-10-years/ | SGPropertyPress 2008. Average monthly household income grows at fastest pace in 10 years. [Online] [Updated 15 Feb 2008]
Available at http://sgpropertypress.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/average-monthly-household-income-grows-at-fastest-pace-in-10-years/ [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 7. Microfinance initiative worldwide | | This website contains various articles on global economic issues, ideas & data to help us all become better contributors to defeating the scourge of extreme global poverty. | | http://defeatpoverty.com/ | SGPropertyPress 2008. Microfinance initiative worldwide. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://defeatpoverty.com/ [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 8. The World Bank | | The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. We are not a bank in the common sense. We are made up of two unique development institutions owned by 186 member countries—the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). | | http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTABOUTUS/0,,pagePK:50004410~piPK:36602~theSitePK:29708,00.html | The World Bank Group 2009. The World Bank. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTABOUTUS/0,,pagePK:50004410~piPK:36602~theSitePK:29708,00.html [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 9. Asian Development Bank | ADB is an international development finance institution whose mission is to help its developing member countries reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of their people.
Headquartered in Manila, and established in 1966, ADB is owned and financed by its 67 members, of which 48 are from the region and 19 are from other parts of the globe. | | http://www.adb.org/default.asp | Asian Development Bank 2009. Asian Development Bank. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://www.adb.org/default.asp [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 10. Rich & Poor-Disparities, Perceptions and Concomitants | | "Rich" and "poor" are multidimensional concepts of considerable value in comparative social research. | | http://www.polyforum.edu.sg/documents/Poverties_and_Wealth.pdf | | Estes, R (2002). Poverties and Wealth: Competing Definitions and Alternative approaches to Measurement. In Glaizer,W, Rich & Poor-Disparities, Perceptions and Concomitants, (pp.11-32): Khwer Academic Publishers. | | [ Back to Top ] | | 11. Evaluation and Poverty Reduction | | Powerlessness is the inability to control the events that shape one's life. The poor lack economic resources and are hence largely dependent on others for the things they need. Their lack of power derives from their dependency. But powerlessness is also an attitude, a feeling that no matter what one does it will have little effect on one's life. An attitude of powerlessness reinforces the condition of powerlessness. Persistent poverty generates lack of motivation and feelings of meaninglessness, hopelessness, distrust, and cynicism. Constant defeat causes many of the poor to retreat into a self-protective attitude characterized by indifference and a pervasive sense of futulity. | | http://www.polyforum.edu.sg/documents/power_and_society_chap_11_poverty_and_powerlessness.pdf | | Stewart, R (2001). Tackling Horizontal Inequalities. In Feinstien, O., Picciotto, R, Evaluation and Poverty Reduction, (pp.273-282) : Transaction Publishers. | | [ Back to Top ] | | 12. Power and Society: An Introduction to Social Sciences | | Civil wars are a major source of poverty. Eight of the ten countries with the worst human development indicators and eight of the ten countries with the lowest gross national product per capita have had major civil wars in the past. About half of all low-income countries have experienced major political viiolence. Causality works both ways, because low incomes lead to conditions that are conducive to violence. Major civil wars are associated with markedly worse performance in economic growth, food production per capita, and human indicators such as infant mortality and school enrollment. Hence prevention of conflict must be put at the center of any comprehensive strategy to tackle poverty. | | http://www.polyforum.edu.sg/documents/Tackling_Horizontal_Inequalities.pdf | | Dye, T, Harrison, B (2005). Power and Society: An Introduction to Social Sciences (10th Ed). Thomson Wadsworth. | | [ Back to Top ] |
| (B) Singapore Context (Websites) | | 1. Singapore: The Challenges of Success | | Singapore's economy is sizzling and along with its success comes challenges. Singapore's success and the challenges that success brings are the focus of articles in The Economist ["High-flyer," 27 October 2007 print edition] and Washington Post ["Singapore's economic boom widens income gap," by Melanie Lee, 9 November 2007]. Let's start with The Economist's article, which labels Singapore's economy as "booming, bustling and bursting at the seams." | | http://enterpriseresilienceblog.typepad.com/enterprise_resilience_man/2007/11/singapore-the-c.html | Enterprise Resilience Management Blog. 2008. Singapore: The Challenges of Success. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://enterpriseresilienceblog.typepad.com/enterprise_resilience_man/2007/11/singapore-the-c.html [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 2. Income inequality in Singapore: Causes, Consequences and Policy Actions | | Rising income inequality is often experienced together with high growth, and Singapore is no exception. It registered consistent GDP growth of 6-7% over most of 1990s and 2000s. At the same time its Gini coefficient rose from 0.43 to 0.47. This raises an interesting argument - Does income inequality drive growth? Or is it a natural consequence of growth? Or is income disparity systematically bred by the very policies and strategies that Singapore pursued to grow? | | http://www.mas.gov.sg/resource/eco_research/eco_education/Esss2007/uni_%201st_%20Ishita.pdf | Enterprise Resilience Management Blog. 2008. Income inequality in Singapore: Causes, Consequences and Policy Actions. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://www.mas.gov.sg/resource/eco_research/eco_education/Esss2007/uni_%201st_%20Ishita.pdf [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 3. Health Promotion Board | | Established in 2001, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has a vision to build a nation of healthy and happy people. Although residents in Singapore today enjoy good health with high life expectancy and low mortality rates, we want to further improve our health status and continue to enjoy good health as we age. To achieve this, HPB assumes the role of the main driver for national health promotion and disease prevention programmes. Our goal is to increase the quality and years of healthy life and prevent illness, disability and premature death. | | http://www.hpb.gov.sg/ | Health Promotion Board. 2009. Health Promotion Board. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://www.hpb.gov.sg/ [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 4. Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports | To build a Cohesive and Resilient Society by fostering :- - Socially Responsible Individuals
- Inspired and Committed Youth
- Strong and Stable Families
- A Caring and Active Community
- A Sporting People
| | http://app.mcys.gov.sg/web/home_main.asp | MCYS. 2009. Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://app.mcys.gov.sg/web/home_main.asp [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 5. Community Development Councils | The Community Development Council functions as a local administration of its District, initiating, planning and managing community programmes to promote community bonding and social cohesion.
Through the Community Development Councils, the residents can get involved in their community and work towards making life better for themselves and their fellowmen. The more able and successful are encouraged to come forward to help the less successful to make our community a better place for all. | | http://www.cdc.org.sg/ | Community Development Council. 2009. Community Development Council. [Online] [Updated 21 Feb 2009]
Available at http://www.cdc.org.sg/ [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 6. National Council of Social Service | | NCSS develops human resources in the sector. A trained, dedicated and professional workforce will take social services in Singapore into the next lap. NCSS also works closely with VWOs for better management and delivery of social service programmes. The objective is to stretch the charity dollar so that more people can benefit from the quality services provided. | | http://www.ncss.org.sg/home/index.asp | National Council of Social Service. 2009. National Council of Social Service. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://www.ncss.org.sg/home/index.asp [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 7. Singapore International Foundation | | SIF aims to help the development of communities outside of Singapore through the Singapore Volunteers Overseas (SVO) programme. SIF facilitates the participation of volunteers in capacity-building programmes in areas as diverse as healthcare and health education, organisational and personal capacity development, empowerment of disadvantaged children, women and families, and rehabilitation of the disabled. | | http://www.sif.org.sg/en/who-we-are | Singapore International Foundation. 2009. Singapore International Foundation. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://www.sif.org.sg/en/who-we-are [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 8. Singapore Government Assistance Schemes | | A list of initiatives to help Singaporeans and businesses cope with the current economic downturn is provided. | | http://www.gov.sg/pdf/List_of_Initiatives_updated07042009.pdf | Singapore International Foundation. 2009. Singapore Government Assistance Schemes. [Online] [Updated 7 Apr 2009]
Available at http://www.gov.sg/pdf/List_of_Initiatives_updated07042009.pdf [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 1. Local Case Study - "They once slept on the streets" | | MATTHEW Sz, 12, thinks himself the luckiest kid in the world. The West View Primary 6 pupil has an endless supply of Doraemon comics from the library and he gets to sleep on the living room sofa at night - all by himself. His parents, older sister and two cousins are not so lucky. They sleep huddled below him, a row of five bodies sharing three pillows, two blankets and one cold floor - that of a relative's three-room flat in Yishun. | | http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090427-137721.html | Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. 2008. They once slept on the streets. [Online] [Updated 28 Apr 2009]
Available at http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090427-137721.html [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 2. MBAs Without Borders donate skills to end poverty cycle | | Jon Ven Johnson is a Texan working in Laos, where he helps disadvantaged young people build a career. But Ven Johnson isn't an aid worker. He's an MBA with a background in management consultancy and what he's offering isn't charity -- it's years of business experience. | | http://edition.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/06/11/without.borders/index.html?iref=intlOnlyonCNN | Cable News Network. 2009. MBAs Without Borders donate skills to end poverty cycle. [Online] [Updated 15 Jun 2009]
Available at http://edition.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/06/11/without.borders/index.html?iref=intlOnlyonCNN [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 3. Income Inequality in Singapore: Causes, Consequences and Policy Options | | More than forty years ago, Singapore began its quest for rapid economic development, a quest that would reap benefits for each Singaporean and the society as a whole. However, this rapid tide of growth and material wealth, favored some far more than the others. During 2005-2007, the average income for families in the bottom decile of the income distribution increased just 3-4% while that of the topmost decile grew by 6-11%. As a result income inequality has grown markedly in Singapore, far more that most developing and developed countries which also experienced long periods of high growth. | | http://www.mas.gov.sg/resource/eco_research/eco_education/Esss2007/uni_%201st_%20Ishita.pdf | Monetary Authority of Singapore. 2009. Income Inequality in Singapore: Causes, Consequences and Policy Options. [Online] [Updated May 2008]
Available at http://www.mas.gov.sg/resource/eco_research/eco_education/Esss2007/uni_%201st_%20Ishita.pdf [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] | | 4. Youthink! But do you know? | | Youth blogs and voices from different countries. | | http://youthink.worldbank.org/about/ | The World Bank Group. 2009. Income Inequality in Singapore: Causes, Consequences and Policy Options. [Online] [Updated ?]
Available at http://youthink.worldbank.org/about/ [Accessed 6 July 2009] | | [ Back to Top ] |
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