Does Singapore Provide the Blueprint for Success in the 21st Century?

In a single generation, Singapore transformed itself from a third-world to first-world nation.

This was all accomplished under the charismatic leadership of its founding father Lee Kuan Yew, who has recently found himself a fan in perhaps the most controversial figure in UK politics, Dominic Cummings.

With no hinterland, increasing racial tensions and having been expelled from Malaysia, Singapore was in crisis throughout the 1960s. It was a third-world country and becoming increasingly irrelevant as its former British colonial rulers continued to withdraw.

Singapore has learned that the key to success is self reliance and investment in its people. Without an educated, innovative and hard-working workforce, its prosperity is at risk.

Today, Singapore is a cutting-edge first world country, which leads the world league tables in a host of categories. There is no nation on earth more competitive than Singapore.

In the digital age and faced against economic competitors from nations like China, the West may look to Singapore’s blueprint for success.

So what can we learn from Singapore?

Lesson One: Invest in Your People

To many, Singapore has the best education system in the world. 20% of its national budget is dedicated to education.

In comparison to their first-world counterparts, Singapore’s students are usually 10 months ahead in English and 20 months ahead in Maths.

The government has adopted a ‘Teach Less, Learn More’ education system, which focusses on quality instead of quantity. Parents are encouraged to take an active role in their children’s education and 70% of families sign their children up for extra classes.

Recently the government has recognised that the Fourth Industrial Revolution will demand non-cognitive and socio-emotional skills, such as leadership, creativity, enterprise, conscientiousness, resilience, and perseverance.

To give you a taste, here are the three desired outcomes of education from Singapore’s Ministry of Education:

‘A good sense of self-awareness,

A sound moral compass,

The necessary skills and knowledge to take on challenges of the future.’

The key takeaway is that investing in your own people will drive prosperity. Singapore now has one of the world’s most skilled workforces, which drives investment.

Education can be the difference between a successful nation and failed nation.

Lesson Two: Appearances Count

For those lucky enough to have visited Singapore’s Changi Airport, it’s hard not to be impressed.

The airport is well-connected, immaculately clean and adorned by beautiful planting. What’s more, you can enjoy cocktail bars, an abundance of shops and its free cinema!

To top it all off is Jewel, the airport’s new terminal featuring the world’s largest indoor waterfall.

Jewel, Changi Airport

Lee Kuan Yew envisaged Singapore as a garden city. From arrival to travelling out of the airport, Yew wanted to impress international investors.

When travelling out of the airport, you’ll see luscious horticulture flanking the roads. Yew wanted to give the impression of a competent people worthy of investment.

Creating a city with an abundance of greenery (despite being densely populated) is key to attracting foreign workers, and studies show that green spaces improve our mental wellbeing.

Also, attractions, including Marina Bay Sands to its Gardens by the Bay are breath-taking. They create tourism and make Singapore a prestigious location, attracting investment from abroad.

Lesson Three: Strive to be the Best

It’s no coincidence that Singapore has been rated as the best place to live during the pandemic.

The nation is committed to attracting the “best and brightest” to the civil service and will pay competitive salaries to secure this talent.

This investment has meant Singapore has responded effectively to combat COVID-19.

It is now reaping the benefits of that success, as its economy has recently roared back, surging by 14.3%.

But it doesn’t end there. Singapore also has a world-class airline, consistently ranked the best in the world. Its airport (as mentioned earlier) has also been rated as best in the world.

Its port is hugely successful, on average it attracts around 130,000 vessels a year and accounts for 7% of its GDP.

Singapore is the most competitive country in the world. It has an open economy, with investment-friendly policies and support for a competitive market.

Singapore is hugely innovative and invests heavily to establish itself as a global research and development hub. It is a country that doesn’t rest on its laurels and is relentless in its goal to be the best.

This has all been made possible by attracting the best talent to its civil service, which has laid the foundation for economic success.

To Conclude

Lee Kuan Yew once said:

“What I fear is complacency. When things always become better, people tend to want more for less work.”

The world is growing more competitive and technology has added to the challenges which many countries face in the 21st Century.

Singapore provides the perfect blueprint for any country wishing to move forward. By necessity, it must remain competitive.

The lessons learned from this island nation / city state may be important for western nations, as they face new challenges posed by China.

From our analysis, it all starts with attracting the best talent into the civil service. Making and implementing good policies has meant Singapore has become a world-leader in many global categories.