SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE Singapore declared independence from Britain on

1963 and after two years as part of the Malay Federation declared its full autonomy

Lee Kuan Yew became the 1st prime minister.

SINGAPORE’S ECONOMY AND PORT

Singapore has developed into one of the most economically prosperous cities in Asia.

free-market economy. strong international trading links (its port is

one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled)

GROWTH AND ECONOMIC BASE The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in consumer

electronics, information technology products, pharmaceuticals, and on a growing financial services sector. 0% agriculture

2010 Real GDP Growth- 14.9% in 2010 (3rd highest growth in the world)

2011 Real GDP Growth- 5.2.% in 2011 2012 Real GDP Growth- 1.3% in 2012 2013 Real GDP Growth- 3.5% in 2013 per capita GDP is 7th in the World

MILLIONAIRES AND POOR

Singapore has the world's highest percentage of millionaire households, with 15.5 percent of all households owning at least one million US dollars

The government has rejected the idea of a generous welfare system, stating that each generation must earn and save enough for its entire life cycle.

FINANCIAL CENTER

The country is the world's fourth leading financial center

BUYING MORE CHILDREN Singapore proposed and passed a two-month paid maternity leave for

mothers of newly-born children and financial incentives to mothers who give birth to a fourth child.

These policies were initiated in response to the declining birth rate that Singapore has experienced in recent years.

0.78 children born/woman 4th highest life expectancy in the world (84 years)

BUYING VOTES OR BEING NICE? In February 2006, current PM Lee Hsien Loong announced in

parliament a 2.6 billion bonus called the Progress Package.

The plan was to distribute budget surpluses accumulated from the past few years to adult Singaporeans in the form of cash to everyone.

TOURISM To attract more tourists, the government has decided to

legalize gambling and to allow three casino resorts

SINGAPORE’S GOVERNMENT Lee Hsien Loong- The elder son of Singapore's founding father Lee

Kuan Yew office in August 2004 Following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of

majority coalition usually appointed prime minister The People's Action Party (PAP) dominates the political process and

has won control of Parliament in every election since self-government

ARE THEY FREE?

Freedom House ranks Singapore as "partly free“

The Economist ranks Singapore as a "hybrid regime", the third rank out of four, in its "Democracy Index".

Singapore is consistently rated as one of the least corrupt countries in the world by Transparency International

EXECUTIVE PAY

Lee Hsien Loong currently earns an annual US$ 1.74 million. Highest paid head of state in the world. Obama- $ 400,000

MILITARY

The Singaporean military is the most advanced in Southeast Asia

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION OR GOOD SENSE Trial by jury has been abolished. Singapore has penalties that include judicial corporal punishment in

the form of caning for offences such as rape, violence, rioting, drug use, vandalism, and some immigration offences

Singapore also imposes a mandatory death penalty for first-degree murder, drug-trafficking, and firearms offences

Amnesty International- “possibly the highest execution rate in the world relative to its population".

THE RULES

MEDIA

Singapore's media environment is highly regulated.

Censorship is common, internet access is regulated and private ownership of satellite dishes is not allowed.

The government vigorously punishes the press for perceived personal attacks on officials, says Freedom House. "As a result, the vast majority of print and broadcast journalists practice self-censorship." Senior officials have been known to sue foreign newspapers.

NEWS

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/world/asia/singapore-slashes-officials-salaries.html?_r=1&ref=singapore

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/world/asia/in-singapore-vitriol-against-newcomers-from-mainland-china.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/business/global/singapore-fights-image-as-tax-haven.html?ref=singapore