Singapore population policy

Young people preferred to stay single, marry late and have children later

The emancipation of women: Women felt there career progression were more important than starting a family. Women are more highly educated and join the workforce .

Economic Implications......

Singapore Population Policy

By Emma, Emily and Anna

Thank You for listening, enjoy completing the quiz based on Singapore's population policy.

5 year plans- Campaign to stop at two

1st plan: Need for smaller families

2nd plan: Stop at two policy- 1966

3rd plan: Maintain population at 2.1 children per family

Results of Anti-Natal population policy

Government Strategy:

Reduce and Control

-Number of births fell from 6+ children per family in 1966 to 2 children per family in 1981.

- In 1975, the birthrate reached the desired level of 2.1 babies born per women.

-Implementations of 5 year plans

-Legalizing use of contraceptives and sterilization

-Financial disincentives

But there were problems.........

social Implications......

Policy was effective and successful

Financial disincentives:

- No paid maternity leave for 3rd child+

- No housing priority's given to larger families

Children became a financial burden:

Loss of income + Increased tax + Increased bills = Financial Burden

Change in attitudes towards marriage and children

-Unemployment -Insufficient Healthcare service

-Shortage of housing - Insufficient education

Government strategy: Reduce and control

THIS LEAD TO OVERPOPULATION:

People realized that having more children is an additional burden due to the high costs associated with a higher standard of living

Greater stress on the working population=

- Heavier tax

- More resources spent on the elderly

-Less resources available for the nation to develop

Education and housing became increasingly more costly

-Peace and Stability

-More children meant more security in old age

- A population increase of 0.5 million between 1950 - 60.

Also defence.....

- Fewer people for national service

-Resulting in a weaker defence force.

Problems with slow population growth.....

- Set to control population growth as a result of the post World War 2 baby boom. More children meant........

Aging Population

- Fewer younger people= Disproportionate to older people - Unbalanced demographic.

- Greater need for healthcare and social services

-More resources needed to take care of the increased number of elderly population.

This led to the installment of Singapore's second population policy, the Pro- natal scheme designed to increase birthrate, introduced in the 1980's.

Anti-Natal Policy: 1950's- 60's

The graduate mothers scheme :

Trend of educated women:

-Marrying Later

-Bearing less children

Government Strategy: Promote population growth

Prime minister Lee: "Female graduates should have more children" - new generation will be more educated

- The graduate mothers scheme

- Three more if you can afford it

-Pro-family measures

-Attracting foreign talent

-Introduced in 1984

-Encourage marriage and children amongst graduates

Three or more if you can afford it :

- Launched in 1987

- Aimed to bring the birth rate back up to and equivalent of2.1 births per women.

Singapore Population Policy's

-They encouraged people to have three or more children if they could afford it.

Anti-Natal policy: 1950's- 60's

Pro- Natal policy: 19

-Creates more jobs and increases productivity

-Boost quality of workforce

-Attract MNC'S investments and income

- Increase the total population of Singapore

-Makes Singapore a more cosmopolitan country

Introduced measures such as allowing the use of 'Medisave' to pay for the delivery charges of the first few children .

Other pro-family measures:

Attracting foreign talent.....

- Equal medical benefits for both parents.

- 5-day work for civil service (work-life balance).

- Grandparent carer relief (tax relief of $3000) for caring for a child.

-Extended maternity leave of 8-12 weeks.

Foreign talents help t0.....

This meant:

-Reduced financial burden

-Less expensive to have kids

-More time to care for kids

Permanent residence and citizenship was encouraged

Most importantly it encouraged parents to have children.

- Relaxed immigration policy

-Easier entry into Singapore

-Subsidized housing

-Attractive education package