10/11/2018

Oxfam’s finding on Singapore’s inequality ‘simplistic and prescriptive’

SMU don Eugene Tan commented on the Oxfam report on Singapore’s income inequality that the ‘methodology was simplistic and prescriptive’. It ranked Singapore 149 out of 157 nations, just one notch above Laos. Singapore’s position fell from a high of 86 last year to near rock bottom, a ranking comparable to the ranking for Singapore’s main media. How atrocious! Would the comments be more friendly if the rankings were like those for our world class universities? Incidentally the rankings for our world class universities have received a few condemnations and they have started to think of a more realistic and relevant way of ranking our world class universities, ranked in the same ethereal realm of existence as the top universities of the world.
 

With such bad ranking on income inequality, this report rightly deserves to be rejected and dismissed. How could Singapore be lying so low down there in the company of Laos and not right up there with the top European countries? Must be very biased, or yes, simplistic and prescriptive. And Minister Desmond Lee was also unhappy with the report and was offended. He said, ‘We think it is more important to look at the outcomes achieved instead.’ Yes, agreed, these people coming from nowhere, never lived here before, making such unruly comments on our domestic affairs and so critical and simplistic some more.
 

Let me just make one quote from the Oxfam report as reported in thenewspaper to support a case against the unstinting and unfair criticism of this best run state in the world. ‘Singapore could tackle inequality at home by spending more, strengthening labour rights and enacting anti discrimination laws.’
 

But Singapore has been spending a lot more to help the poor students, including many from other countries to study in our world best schools, polytechnics and universities, with scholarships covering fees, living expenses and housing. This is in the tune of several billions over the years. How much more must Singapore spend before Oxfam is satisified? The govt even legislated to spend the poor people’s life savings, otherwise they would not spend, to protect them from health and life expectancy problems. This money spent the Oxfam sure would not know. They must add this as part of the social spending to help the poor, to level up the income inequality.
 

As for strengthening the labour movements and labour rights, how much more is needed when the govt assigned the PM to be to head the labour movement? This is damn powerful ok, to protect and to fight for the workers’ rights and interests. No country would put such a high power minister to work for the workers. So the comment by the Oxfam report is too simplistic or ignorant.
 

More anti discrimination laws? On what, sexual inequality or wealth inequality? Ok, sexual inequality is now gaining support, especially for the LGBTs. Give the govt some time and all sexes and bisexuals will be equal, no more discrimination. Oh wait a minute, I read about this on sexual inequality, ‘Singapore has no equal pay or non discrimination laws for women, its laws on rape and sexual harassment are inadequate and there is no minimum wage except for cleaners and security guards.’ Holy cow, where did this come from? See how many women ministers we have and think the top salary earner in Singapore is a woman. Ok, I have no statistic to back this up. Caveat.
 

Laws on rape? Come on, Singapore is virtually free of rape crimes against women. Why do you need more laws on this when it is quite irrelevant? You need more laws on rape if the country is infested with rapists, not safe, safe Singapore.
 

As for wealth inequality, the best legal provision is the abolishment of estate duty so that everyone can inherit their homes after the death of the owner of the estate. Rich or poor, all are treated as equal. Poor Singaporeans need not lose their estate as a result of death, and can pass on their HDB flats to their descendants forever.
 

See how simplistic is the Oxfam report? They did not know that our poor are so rich and happy that all the poor in the whole world would want to be poor in Singapore. This is a fact, a spoken fact. Why is it a spoken fact? Because no one in Singapore dispute this fact when spoken.
 

Whew. I said my piece for Singapore. I defended Singapore’s integrity.

57 comments:

Whoever said...

No lah, Singapore where got inequality? Other people always wrong, we are always right. They don't run our government mah. For that matter, they never run any government leh. The only thing they ever run is to run down our government lah. Right or wrong?

I also defend our government leh. Hahahaha ...

But, but, but .... er .. Who defend our citizens, our people, our Singaporeans har?

Whoever said...

In Singapore, EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is equal until proved otherwise.

Sama sama as our laws. Evey accused is guilty until proved otherwise.

So, if based on that then our government must be guilty until proven otherwise, correct or wrong? No wonder we have to defend ourselves - to prove that we are not guilty of INEQUALITY! Gotchas!

Virgo49 said...

Desmond Lee said 90% Sinkies owned their own flats.Owned or leased flat??

Matland low cost 3 roomed 2 halls flats at RM50 to 80K. Singapore studio at 100 over K. Just all into one. Pian sai also can smell thru hall and room.

Oldies picking cardboards for living so Sinkieland wealth and spending on poor no inequality.???

Ang Mohs one thing good, very blunt one.

A spade is called a spade.

No need to denied.

Titiana Ann Xavier said...

The PAP government no longer exists to serve the masses. It demands that the masses become obedient slaves or suffer the consequences. Hence, it is not shocking for Singapore to be ranked 149 out of 157 on income inequality. The demons are found in the PAP. They delight in persuading the masses to support tyranny disguised as patriotism. 70% chose to remain silent as any protest may be deemed as an unpatriotic act.

Anonymous said...

Rb, I agreed with you it's too simplistic cause 70% also agreed😀

Anonymous said...


Hahaha.........

Is this a case of.......无风不起浪? 无风不起浪?

Cannot be!

The people in Sg are vry vry vry happie!

Correct?

Anonymous said...

BREAKING NEWS.

Sin jumps 8 Places to be the Nomber 1 in World Human Capital Index.
lt kind of confirm Palestinian Naz's observation when he was here for a few days.
No need for anyone to be in Sin,
to know how good Sin is la.

Anonymous said...

Believe or not
up to You.

Big big trouble
coming to Sin.

Make Your Guess
what it could be....

Chio See Lang Kong Cum Wayang Siao Ting Tong said...

New Old Fart: "Whew. I said my piece for Singapore. I defended Singapore’s integrity."



For once, Yew are spot on?

Where god inequality?

Recently just received a notification of a $100 bonus from one Mrs Dunno what dunno her leh but said going to receive $100 ("drop from sky") end of 2018

Pple at Oxfam must be "eyes paste stamps" like kitten haven't opened yet?

Unlike ET eyes like bats opened "BIG BIG" liao?

Can even see "ghosts and pple" in total darkness?

"Gui" Quah Cho "Lang"?

"Lang" Quah Cho "Gui"?

Meanwhile, this (waste time bor liao) $100 bonus will most likely be donated to old folks home and their coffer with this $100 donation will be dilles to the brim?

Where got "inequality"?

$100 donation will solve so many problems le and where god inequality?

Oxfam pple eyes "paste stamps" le?

ET eyes like bats not blind open "Big Big"?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ unequal people:

Oxfam, like the Roman Catholic Church has held back in taking the moral high ground on issues. Oxfam like the RCC has an image issue too: Their member have been caught for PEDOPHILIA. 😱
And like the RCC, it is unlikely that level-headed people will ever take what they "pontificate" seriously.

Oxfam---a definitely politically left-leaning NGO, has never been an advocate of free-markets and capitalism in general. They believe in REDISTRIBUTION, considering "inequality" as the worst cardinal sin in rich cuntries.

I have to say I'm on board with SMU's Prof Eugene and associate prof Walter.

Singapore's outcomes are EXCELLENT by any metric. And if you look at the world's Economic Freedom Index, Singapore and Hong Kong are the top 2 cuntries, and have held the spots for several years.

Oxfam might have to eat its words. Whilst Singapore does have some of the world's lowest corporate and personal income tax levels, it won't be for long. Rest assured, TAXES WILL INCREASE, and they will "creep in and up" slowly, but increase they will.

The reason for this is Nation Building. The govt has grand designs which will cost A LOT OF MONEY, and they are going to pay for it by CONFISCATING more from the producers.

By next week, the Oxfam's bad report card on Singapore's "inequality" will be mostly forgeotten and it will be same-o same-o; business as usual.

No govt, no cuntry is "perfect". Don't get me wrong...the SG.GOV does alot of strange things, some of them morally suspect; for e.g. the restriction on political freedoms and civil liberties. But in the broad economic and financial spheres, they're darn good.

Meritocracy breeds winners and losers. That fact is inescapable. You are going to get more income/ wealth inequality in meritocracy-based political economies because when the competition is intense, the "game" approaches zero-sum. However it is better to be a (temporary) "loser" in a wealthy cuntry than a basket-case shithole like Nigeria and Laos at the bottom of the Oxfam report.

Meritocracy leads to "Power distribution curves" like Pareto (80-20 princilple)...or "long tails", where the few at the top have the most wealth, and the rest are just "average"

Oxfam is ideologically driven. They neglect the BASIC FACT that to become wealthy you need to innovate and CREATE VALUE. You don't get wealthy by robbing the rich and redistributing it. That is just plain DUMB and UNSUSTAINABLE: you're burning valuable CAPITAL.

Places like Norway and Qatar have huge supplies of natural resources and stable world-class infrastructure to efficiently refine those resources for the global markets. They charge hugely in mineral and resource "rents" and taxes which is used to fund infrastructure and social programs in their societies. Singapore has no such resources: it has the brains of the people, and a happening harbour and port...which just happens to be smack in the middle of the world's busiest trading routes.

Pragmatic Singapore is about "outcomes", not "theory" or "ideology". Needless to say "pragmatism" is not without problems like negative externalities, knock-on effects or unintended consequences and moral hazards.

But like everything else in the universe, all decisions and actions to achieve objectives involve TRADE OFFS. Most Singaporeans are well aware of the trade-offs they've made for the lives they have.

Anonymous said...


Hi 956 am

Don't spread fear leh........

Just look around you.

Everyone smiling and happy.

OK here and OK there.

Where got problems in SG?

To many many Sg is the best!

Or do you know anything we don't?

Can share share?

Old Fart Legacy is Just that? said...

New Old Fart: "SMU don Eugene Tan commented on the Oxfam report on Singapore’s income inequality that the ‘methodology was simplistic and prescriptive’. It ranked Singapore 149 out of 157 nations, just one notch above Laos. Singapore’s position fell from a high of 86 last year to near rock bottom, a ranking comparable to the ranking for Singapore’s main media. "




This survey is skewed lah?

Like many surveys that had been done to "favour" the parties who commissioned (or paid for) the surveys?

It is so obvious (and a no-brainer)?

Who will do a survey to own self tarnish (and blacken) ownself?

The intention is as clear as a very bright sunny day like 11 Oct 2018 morning big big sun?

To perform "plastic 蛇Jeer蜹" and "beautify" a "丑八怪"?

So now how (to do that)?

Easi peasi?

Just perform another survey?

Sure rank at the top?

Do a survey on "DYSTOPIA" among "democrazy" countries?

Guess who will be ranked #1?

Oxfam ...

Game on?

Anonymous said...

There is no way they will admit it.

Currently Singapore's per capita income is among the highest in the world. But such statistics does not tell the whole story. There are so many high income individuals earning astronomical salaries in Singapore, so many millionaires and billionaires, and these are the people pulling up the per capita income figures that really makes all the difference. But there are even bigger numbers of people earning less than the minimum for survival. No beggars does not mean no poverty. The law has been tweaked to take care of that negative image for show to tourist.

Insidiously, statistics lie. But the arguments always quote the statistics that lie as the ultimate truth. Who can argue with official statistics that lie, but purports to tell the truth? 70% will swallow that. Not the other 30%!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I just read that someone said that Singapore's tax rate is too low. Who said that is unimportant. The question is who paid who or told who to say that is. It is a test for reaction from the public.

I agree with Matilah. Taxes and cost of living will keep on going up. It happens all over the world. But let us hope it is not because of excessive spending on 'grand' projects that most people do not enjoy but just to inflate some people's grand ego of keeping up to be 'whore No. 1'

Anonymous said...

Dear 956.
What trouble ?
Natural or man caused ?
Any hint ?

Whoever said...

If begging has been made an offence in the country, the people who begs have the ingenuity to make themselves as tissue-pappers sellers usually sitting on a wheel chair, or become baskers, or scavengers. Therefore, the government can always boast that there are no "beggars" in Singapore. Touching your own hearts eith your hands and feel, open your eyes and see for yourselfl, using your ears to listen to the people and go around all the MRT stations and underground passage-ways and experience for yourselves first-hand, then conclude whether there are beggars in Singapore or not.

Don't take the words of government mouth-piece and state organs as the gospel truth.

Moreover, statistics can lie until you do not know. So beware of the people who fashion statistical data and results.

Anonymous said...

The Oxfam Report is total rubbish. We have the best system in the world. We have the very few highly paid ministers in our government and a few cardboard collectors and foodcourt cleaners. But these cardboard collectors and foodcourt cleaners are mostly foreign works and they do not count. Of course some are Singaporeans, but they are doing theses jobs for exercise, not that they make a living out of it. Most Singaporeans are rather rich, especially they they see their CPF accounts. Although they cannot touch their own money, they are still considered rich. Some even drive taxi for a living after graduation from top universities. No other country can have such a highly educated cab drivers. In short, Oxfam Report is total rubbish. Singapore is the best, the best place to live and to grow your family.

Native of Deception or Immigrant of Hardtruth? said...

No point kpkb eveLEEday?

What was the intention of old fart?

He looked at very lo(oooooo)ng term but just barely 3 years passed since 23rd Mar 2015?

And already in this sad .... Oops in this state ...?

Right from the start, it was selfishness?

All the altruism and what not are fake, make belief?

Politicians will say and do whatever it takes to get into power?

Even heirs and successors are just pawns to fulfil their selfish wishes (and get away in one piece while alive from their atrocious deeds)?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ 1026

Statistics (in this case) do not lie. It is the interpretation of statistics which cause errors in perception; wilful deception being the worst case.

Singapore's GDP (PPP) is ~$94k (USD) making it #3 in global rankings. You cannot interpret this statistic correctly without looking at HOW the data points are distributed. Even non-maths people know---by just simple observation---that most "average" people earn around 4-5k (SGD) monthly. Therefore to get to the SGD 130k pa or ~10k per month, there must be some really high income earners to push that number in the stats.

...which is the point which Oxfam gets correct: there is a large gap of "inequality" in income and wealth.

But Singaporeans already know that. We've had that since most of us can remember: towkays earn lots of money and are rich, and most people work for wages and are not rich, but are "OK".

Everyone who earns the average wage always wants more money. No surprises there. The Oxfam report will aid "confirmation bias" of people who constantly complain that "the wealth gap" aka "inequality" is BAD...but fail to take the CONTEXT of that claim.

Yes, inequality is bad if the majority are in POVERTY. Singapore is not such case. It has a HUGE middle class who do ok, and are upwardly mobile.

Normal distribution | Power Law distribution

As you can see, in normal distribution (Bell curve) the mean and variance is easy to calculate and very clear to the eye. In Power Law curves (e.g. Pareto distributions) it is difficult if not impossible to get the mean and the variance. Normal distributions are for data like height and weight (most people fall in between 3 standard deviations...i.e. there are very few EXTREMELY fat or skinny people).
Power laws describe things like internet traffic, wealth distribution, income distribution---especially in areas like sport and entertainment. In sport a the top few earn billions, whilst the rest earn significantly less. The top actors earn orders of magnitude more than struggling actors---which is the majority.

Lawyer turned Statistician Overnight? Chio See Lang? said...

New Fart: "SMU don Eugene Tan commented on the Oxfam report on Singapore’s income inequality that the ‘methodology was simplistic and prescriptive’."



This ET can take over his colleagues in the SOE and teach Stats modules le?

Soon, besides Statistics, he might also become an "expurt" in the medical field and offer his svc to YLL SOM?

Dunno Law don can be so versatile and turned into a Statistician "expurt" overnight?

Hey, (Stats guru) Prof SSH, move over ...?

Here come Law Don ET ... (to ply his trade as a Statistician or "laughing stock")?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@1042

Absolutely right. There are not many places on the planet, in modern times where you can bring up a family and do "OK".

As mentioned previously, Singapore has problems with the freedom of expression---especially of criticising authority, political freedoms, and civil liberties. But that is not "new data"---the majority have already "adjusted" to these realitiesand still manage to increase their wealth, lifespan...aka "human capital", broadly speaking. In this sphere, Singapore ranks #1 at the moment.

The problem with ideologically driven analytics is that they cherry-pick EXTREMES to support their claims. So they will show a few rich people enjoying their high-flying social status, and then cut to poor old folks waiting tables or selling tissue outside MRT...then draw a "conclusion" which Virtue Signals that "Look at these poor and rich people...ineqaulity is bad...it is IMMORAL!! The govt needs to tax more and help the poor".

The "middle" where not-rich not poor but OK people mostly lie is completely ignored.

Anonymous said...

I believe what Whoever 10,41 said.

If you observe closely, there are beggars hiding behind stairways, afraid of the law. In fact beggars have been given new titles, since jobs like toilet cleaners, sweepers, gardeners and bus drivers have also been repackaged into great sounding titles, so beggars now become tissue sellers and buskers, all perfectly sanitised and leegalised.

I suppose beggars love such titles, like our bus captains. It can only happen in Red Dot!

Quah Cha Mati - Mai Hsian Tao Lah ... said...

@ 1107 Quah Cha Mati:
>>>> As you can see, in normal distribution (Bell curve) the mean and variance is easy to calculate and very clear to the eye. <<<<<



Wah ... Sound so "clever" ...

Can demostrate how it is calculated (since "boasted" it "is easy to calculate")?

At least quote some statistical formulae or calculation methodology?

(And dun try to prevaricate or slither away [like a snake aka oldgoat]?)

(And also last minute "hug buddha leg" and try to cramp and smoke your way through)?

(There may be many oldies in msn who are trained in Statistics such as "YawningHumCheePeng")?

Anonymous said...

Experts, professors and analytics all follow the money and say what the money dictates.

Nothing more, nothing less. So believe in what they say at your own peril.

What comes out of their mouth is sometimes ridiculous to the extreme, like coconut oil is pure poison, durian is now good for you, canola oil is the best, and the best joke of all, rambutan seed is poisonous? Who eats rambutan seeds anyway? And who the fuck said that must still be living in the dark ages and never seen a rambutan, except his very own two rambutans.

Quah Cha Mati in his usual act smart spinning? said...

11.35am >>>So believe in what they say at your own peril.<<<



This Quah Cha Mati not included? (But he is neither an expurt (in anyth), nor a professor in any recognised discipline)

Whoever said...

Correct. Absolutely correct. The PAP stooges and minions are at FULL SWING to undermine and dispel the facts and notions that there is a HUGE INCOME DISPARITY (better term than INEQUALITY) in Singapore!

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ Troll



>>@ 1107 Quah Cha Mati:
>>>> As you can see, in normal distribution (Bell curve) the mean and variance is easy to calculate and very clear to the eye. <<<<<

Wah ... Sound so "clever" ...

Can demostrate how it is calculated (since "boasted" it "is easy to calculate")? <<


You have Google and Youtube, use them!

Nice try, troll. Here, a nice song, dedicated to you. 🤡

Anonymous said...

The British Public are questioning why the UK's MI5 are authorized to kill (commit crimes) abroad? And they say it makes the UK looks like an Evil Empire!

Since when MI5 have ever killed anyone in a foreugn land? It happens only in 007 James Bond's films lah.

UK should follow Singapore leaders to refute and dispel such notions.with a straight face.

Virgo49 said...


Those s$500K and above not mediocre and NOT kachang puteh like Lao Goh's wifey said of Durai's million dollars plus plus will definitively said NO Such inequity in Singapore.

Need to con the dafts so that they can remain on TOP of the Pyramid to suck your blood and hold the slavery ropes.

If I were a millionaire, I would said that the workers are alreday overpaid compared to what's Less endowed countries.

Quah Cha Mati Exposed Bona Fide IGNORAMUS??? said...

@ Quah Cha Mati, dunno say dunno, call spade a spade! Be a (real) MAN! (Not a gu niah trying to hide under the skirt or grandmother blanket)

????????????? "@ Troll

>>@ 1107 Quah Cha Mati:
>>>> As you can see, in normal distribution (Bell curve) the mean and variance is easy to calculate and very clear to the eye. <<<<<

Wah ... Sound so "clever" ...

Can demostrate how it is calculated (since "boasted" it "is easy to calculate")? <<

You have Google and Youtube, use them!"?????????




If just google or youtube can le, why bother eveLEEtime WRITE sooooooo lo(ooooooooo)ng grandmother, grandfather, granduncle, grandauntie ... stories ...?????

Have you NOT heard of Freudian Slip?

You are just as ignorant if not more than those you criticised day in day out?

Live Debate Pls between ET and Oxfam on Statistical Methodology ... said...

"SMU don Eugene Tan commented on the Oxfam report on Singapore’s income inequality that the ‘methodology was simplistic and prescriptive’."



Is ET teaching oldies how to suck eggs?

Or rather Oxfam or Statisticians what is Statistics (as a statistiscally puay tang sai law don in Statistics)?

Likely ET may not even know much about Statistics (yet "professed like an expurt" and "rubbished" Oxfam report statistical methodology ala this Quah Cha Mati modus operandi with a broadbrush "knockdown")?

Oxfam can always reply him for a live telecast debate on what would be a statistically "NOT simplistic" methodology (but likely he would "try to slither away" like this typical Quah Cha Mati)?

How good can a Law don be in Statistics to question the Statistical methodology used?

ET is an expurt in Statistics meh?

Anonymous said...

//Recently just received a notification of a $100 bonus from one Mrs Dunno what dunno her leh but said going to receive $100 ("drop from sky") end of 2018//



Maybe next general erection potential candidate?

Anonymous said...

Yes!

$g is the best-est in this world!

We all very blessed to be here!

Yam Seng! ��������������!

Anonymous said...

We are deeply disappointed that the PAP elites are in self-denial over their shortcomings.

We urge the PAP elites to be humble in correcting their mistakes and follow the right path.

Anonymous said...

What mistakes 3.16pm?

Anonymous said...

The PAP never ever admit mistakes. The old man said that admitting mistakes is a sign of weakness. All through the decades no mistakes made.

Go figure it out!

Anonymous said...

@ October 11, 2018 4:51 pm

There are no mistakes in a religion.

Religion.
- the study of answers which cannot be questioned.

Whoever said...

It Is Here - Earlier Than Expected

The US stock market has started to tumble, affecting many other stock markets in the world. This is the first phase.

A correction will be seen. Thereafter, the tumbling will continue in phases. How long each phase lasts is dependent on how EU, Russia and China react.

The Indian Market is f8nished. Singapore and other small stock markets will be in a very difficult position.

Be warned. Take care.

Anonymous said...

China is looking into the possibility of joining the TPP.

Malaysia confirms she will abolish capital punishment.

Russia-US combined space-station astronauts failed to reach the Space Station and had to return to Earth in a crash-landing, when their rocket malfunctioned.

US is hit by another weather disaster for the evils it is doing to the rest of the world.

US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Kaur resigned because she was accused of corruption.

Singaporeans are very happy because there is no inequality and no shortage of statisticians.

Anonymous said...

Sin so far so good.
No irregularity.
Only Workers Party is sued for fiduciary lapses.
Everything else is fine in Sin.

Lucky Sinkies.

US$4.5T Bonds and Mortgage Backed Securities Bought with QE $ in US FED balance sheet and €3 T Bonds bought with QE $ in Eurozone ECB balance sheet. Last GFC problems solved or swept under taxpayers carpet? Bluff who? said...

"SMU don Eugene Tan commented on the Oxfam report on Singapore’s income inequality that the ‘methodology was simplistic and prescriptive’."



This ET probably is an IGNORAMUS in Chinese & Mandarin?

Otherwise, he would likely have agreed with the finding of the Oxfam Report?

In the Chinese community, one (in)famous nickname dubbed for majority of sinkies (possibly up to 90+%) is "月光族"?

Literally translated means "Moonlight Tribe/ Race" but HELL NO (that is not the meaning)!

月 in Chinese can mean moon or month cos of the lunar based Chinese calendar, moon means month and month means moon (in Chinese)?

Have you oldies (or bananas) not realised?

So in this case, this (in)famous nickname of sickies (most are financially very "sick" so Oxfam Report may have more truth than ET's "malicious slandering" on its statistical methodology for which he is probably rather ill-qualified to do so given his area of (non-)expurtise in the field of Statistics) in Chinese "月光族" the "月" character means "month".

Now, "光" in Chinese has another meaning besides "light" or "bright".

It also carries the connotation of "emptiness" or in Malay "kosong"?

Zero ... Nothing left!

"族" in Chinese can carry the meaning of "race", "tribe", or "certain group of people" in general.

So put together, in the (finanically) sickieland Chinese community,

"月光族" means "month (end) kosong people" or "month (end) zero people" ...

(Possibly up to 90% financially sickies) bank accounts empty empty de (at the end of the month)?

So need what Oxfam Report?

Any heartlander can tell you same "conclusion"?

So tmr if go mkt or mrt station or any public area and throw a marshmellow stone, easiLEE it will hit up to 9 out of 10 people who are "月光族" or "month (end bank account) kosong people" or "month (end bank account) zero people" ...?

No?

Anonymous said...

Part 2:

Need what Oxfam survey and report?

This one many people lo(ooooooooo)ng ago(h) know liao?

So many sickies are "月光族" or "month (end bank account) kosong people" or "month (end bank account) zero people" ...?

So who is correct?

Oxfam Report or this "Statistics Ignoramus" ET's comment?

You decide ...

Many indicators confirmed such reality?

For those who are married and earning $5 to 10 k each per mth but childless, they are struggling to keep up with car, property and both husband and wife parents upkeep?

For those got child or children, it is even worst (as each year goes by and the kids progress through their childhood)?

How many parents are not spending in excess of $1k+ per month per child on their tuition?

Are the parents NUTS?

Their children no need tuition but they kong cum just want bang their heads on the wall and spend hardearned blood, sweat, tears $$$ unnecessarily or in futility?

Or is it the other way round and tuition has become a necessity (given the (lack of) quality in the pedagogy existing in the formal system) in order for students to grasp essential concepts and do well?

Why the majority of students in even top junior colleges or secondary schs who are best of the best, creme de la creme, the top 3% cream of layer in each cohort still need private tuition and thus cost their parents to be mostly "月光族" and thus bank account empty empty or even kosong at month end?

Sickies are indeed so lucky to earn this accolade of "月光族" or bank account empty empty or even kosong at month end?

As one anon always (shamelessly and spinelessly) proclaims sickieland is the "bestest" and everywhere people spending $$$ so happy ...?

Empirically, now at many hawker centres, food actually are getting cheaper?

Porridge prices at some hawker centres have fallen from $4 to $3.80 to $3 and some are selling at $2.80. Sliced pork porridge, century egg porridge etc with relatively good quality and sizeable portion?

Why ah?

Anonymous said...

Part 3:

Ingredients getting cheaper? Rentals getting cheaper?

Or business too good liao then lowering prices will earn more revenue and profits (given that such products are demand inelastic given their nature)?

And thus lowering prices in products with inelastic demand actually leads to lower revenue and profits, not more?

But why are hawkers doing that?

They dunno anything about Economics?

They botakchay?

Or there is a price war?

Even in hawker centres?

Then the hawkers dunno how to compete on non-price competition strategy?

Tbeir children who studied Economics dunno or never teach their hawker parents?

Or bcos the JLB system only know how to teach students to study dead books "读死书", "tak si chay"?

Dunno how to apply at all maciam those paper generals dabble in business lost billions and sickieland icons such as NOL?

Inequality is dead and extinct in sickieland?

Oxfam Rwport is "rubbish"?

This (plp) ET's comments are words of "GOLD"?

Words of "Wisdom"?

Words of "Truth"?

And NOT shits that came out of the assholes to shamelessly defend the indefensible and forcefully insists black is white and "gui" is "lang"?

Another indicator is the number of babies born each year or TFR?

Is it going higher or maciam falling off the cliff?

Last year TFR at 2.1 or 1.1?

Has affordability gone up or down?

Cost is not a major issue in young couples not having any offspring?

The poor is gettig richer and the rich is getting poorer in sickieland?

This (plp) ET is 100% correct and Oxfam Report utter rubbish?

Anonymous said...

Has affordability gone up or down?
October 11, 2018 9:56 pm

As long as the stupidity keeps going up .... affordability does not matter.

That's why we don't want Singaporeans to become graduates.

Anonymous said...

Before the start of the AFC in 1997, nobody probably doubted the invincibility of the then Indonesian President Suharto and even remotely predicted any political change possible.

But as the world already knew, by 1998 the AFC has made his position almost untenable given the financial carnages wrought on their nation's finances and general economic conditions.

Before the AFC in 1997, Indonesia debt problems were mounting and on very shaky ground?

With George Soros and his biz buddy then Jim Roger mounting one of the largest speculative attacks on the region's financial market especially the currencies, the exchange regime was unsustainable and many currency pegs had to be eventually abandoned just like the Gold Standard in the 1930s and 1970s

Debts soared and bankruptcies simply shot through the roof

Livelihood for many suddenly seem an impossible dream and subsequently all hell broke loose?

If the next financial crisis do hit, which country would it be at its most vulnerable state and become easy prey for international speculators to mount concerted attacks to bring it to its knees? And could it subsequently lead to political change just as it happened in several countries during the 1997-98 AFC and 2008-9 GFC?

Anonymous said...

10 years ago in Oct 2008, when the market crashed, history was made when a black US President, Barack Obama won the White House.

Anonymous said...

As long as the stupidity keeps going up .... there will be no change in government.

The Daftest Rank Number 1 People On Mother Earth said...

Sickies are real stupid and can only view the world from a well?

When talking about political change, how come stupid sickies cannot see the immediate impact on the coming US mid term election?

If the tide turns against the GOP, then it is a significant change as POTUS could become a premature lame duck in the second half of his first term and this could have major impact on policies that affect the rest of the world?

Sickies really got no cure le when their view of the sky is as wide as the view from the well?

No?

Right here not even remotely referring to sickieland but some daft people first thought is just that?

How narrow and stupid?

Besides that, all these daft are "HUM CHEE" type so nobody really is even referring to sickieland or hoping for.

Only the daft with incurable stupidity can only immediately link to that?

They can only think of what they are wishfully hoping for, not what in reality is and going to be?

That's why old fart liked to rub salt into injury and labelled them "dogs" and "daft" in front of foreign press and foreigners?

Anonymous said...

Virgin49 //Need to con the dafts so that they can remain on TOP of the Pyramid to suck your blood and hold the slavery ropes.//



Exactly?

Sickies love to be screwed badly and JL JL as witnessed from the past?

Now even some incorrigible lao ah pek are asking the law to be repealed so that sodomisation can take place LEEgally?

The more pain sickies get, the more excited and thrilled they are?

Metaphorically, the sodomisation should even to the extent of intestines overflowing to induce sickies organism and to the daft that is pure enjoyment?

To the daftest and rank #1 most stupid people on Earth, shit is pure delicacy and to be screwed JL JL is the best treatment they yearned for?

Anonymous said...

Whoever October 11, 2018 7:15 pm
>>>It Is Here - Earlier Than Expected

The US stock market has started to tumble, affecting many other stock markets in the world. This is the first phase.

A correction will be seen. Thereafter, the tumbling will continue in phases. How long each phase lasts is dependent on how EU, Russia and China react.

The Indian Market is f8nished. Singapore and other small stock markets will be in a very difficult position.

Be warned. Take care.<<<





Matilah,

If you listen to the financial news, most analyses are quite off-tangent and somehow just trying their best to talk about anything other than the real reason behimd the selloff?

Not withstanding their "status" as "expurts" and in charge of how many billions, tens of billions, hundreds of billions of investment, the reasons given by many for the sell-off mostly are quite ridiculous or even plain hilarious and deceptive?

Maciam the classroom textbooks possible reasons students would write in an exam?

The US $ machine ... Oops ... Central Bank ... FED started unwinding their GINOMOUS US$4.7 trillion balance sheet from 4Q2017 and till now reaches only about US$210 billion or less than 5% of the amount they printed in QE1, 2 & 3 and the market is wobbling with the knees threatening to give way?

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, ECB President Mario Draghi dubbed Super Mario but in essence far from any heroic act except pushing humanity closer to abyss with his massive $$$ printing machine, is poised to announce end Oct the end of the more than €3 trillion Eurozone QE that started in Jan 2015 with monthly amount of €60b and increased to €80b per month in Mar 2016, tapered back to €60b each month in Mar 2017 and further tapered to €30b Jan 2018. Super Mario now has many reasons to delay ending QE end of this month when the ECB meet again to deliberate on the modern version of Shakespearean Hamlet "To QE or not to QE"?

So the whole bull market is built on quicksand or rather QE $? Any tiny unwinding or hint of QT (quantitative tightening) would be sending the market such as past week into vertigo like induced dizzy spell?

This could be the real reason?

Any other reason given are just plain parroting from one person to another?

Just watch what ECB Super Mario will have to say in coming days and week and at the end of this month about the remaining monthly €30b QE since it started in Jan 2015 and the ballooning trillions in govt debts in its balance sheet that ECB has allowed its 19 members CB to buy over the past nearly 4 years?

Virgo 49 said...

Hi Bro Old Wise Owl or Bird.

Well said. This may be also a Ploy by the Farking Americunts Dotard Trump having a smoke screen firstly bedek bedek blood bathed their side and affected all the Rest of the Dotards of The World.

All these imbeciles always look to the Farking Americunts for direction and later George Sorrows and his Gang will sweep all in their pockets.

Why every year the Dreaded October when they have to make a Correction or Killing.???

The Farking Americunts are sinister in all these make believes.

They will print more banana monies to swap all your wealth.

Old龙 said...

Virgo 49 October 12, 2018 8:13 am
//This may be also a Ploy by the Farking Americunts Dotard Trump having a smoke screen firstly bedek bedek blood bathed their side and affected all the Rest of the Dotards of The World.//


Hello (Young) Bro Virgo49,

U dun say ...

One client yesterday evening texted to cancel an order and indefinitely delay another. Said "sthg happened" ...

What do u think "happened"?

Knn

This month taking at least going to be down by 20% liao ...

Virgo49 said...

Hi Olddragon,

So you are in retail business or next million hair hawker business??

Your clients cancelled orders and business down by 20%.?

What do I think things happened???

Recession and depression is happening.

Starhub and whats old timer companies falling like nine pins with what's restructuring to rid the citizens to be millionaire hawkers,taxi drivers atas than trishaw riders.

Just the iceberg of restructuring of more to come. They are cons to deploy the structures employment to rid those high paying employees to oblivion so that they can have much lower cost new employees.

Then they can be on TOP of the Pyramid to ride over you.

My son, part Mininnenial had now learnt the true status of what's been unemployed for last three months.

Many of his cohorts have not tasted these miseries as yet.

No wonder now so many depressed and seeking IMH treatments.

Old (but NOT siao ting tong) LO(OOOOOOO)NG said...

Virgo49 October 12, 2018 9:23 am
//So you are in retail business or next million hair hawker business??//


Aiyo,

Others kong cum their problems hor! Retail business costs so high how to make $$$? Not so siao ting tong to be in retail business lah ...

Virgo49 said...

So, my dear Olddragon.

The best business still is Prostitution Business.

See so many masak masak parlours turtles in the raids have thousands of $$$$$$ laid out by the Polisi.

Said one month can made up to hundred of thousands.

AntiVice also losing lots of commissions.

Anonymous said...

A course on how to be a prostitute is going to attract a lot of trainees. And if it is made compulsory, bee tang.

b said...

THis don is totally dumb or blind or cluecless or blur. Sg is totally high in inequality.
Pay for cleaner is around $1k pm #1
pay for minister is $100k pm #2
Like this also cannot tell.
Better fire him and send him to mental/IQ check up.
What a disgrace for SMU.

#1 (https://www.indeed.com.sg/salaries/Cleaner-Salaries)
#2 ("White Paper - Salaries for a Capable and Committed Government". Public Service Division. 10 January 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.)