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[Abstract: This article examines the changing patterns of poverty in Singapore. As Singapore's population ages, the poor increasingly includes the elderly. It appears that ascribed factors, such as gender and race, have significant influence on financial security at old age. As the population ages, the adequacy of existing anti-poverty policy is challenged.]
The success of Singapore's development has drawn much discussions among scholars (Nyaw and Chan, 1982; Pang, 1985; Lim 1988; Chng, Low and Toh, 1988; Lee 1996b). However, amid its modern structures and clean streets some Singaporeans are living in poverty. Certain groups of people, such as the working poor, have been left out of the success of the city state. Others have concluded that income and racial inequality have risen (Pang, 1975; Islam and Kirkpatrick, 1986; Lee, 1992; 1995a; 1995b; 1996a). Like many industrialized and affluent societies, public policy in Singapore has not been successful in eradicating such social ills. As Singapore's population ages, elderly with inadequate financial resources will likely slip into poverty. The state strongly upholds meritocracy, and only provides education and training to enable its citizen to achieve in society. Individual economic well-being is entirely dependent upon an individual's efforts. Hence, in comparison to other affluent societies, Singapore has very little to offer in terms of social assistance to those living in or near poverty.1 Little is known of Singapore's poor and for that matter how Singapore deals with them. This article examines the changing nature and causes of poverty in Singapore and the anti-poverty measures that are in place.
Incidence of Poverty in Singapore
The 1995 General Household Survey shows that Singapore has a population of about 3 million people of which 79% of the population were Chinese, 14% Malay and 6% Indian. Government officials acknowledge that Malays are over represented in the bottom of the Singapore economy. In terms of income, a 1991 survey showed that 45.8% of working Malays earned between S$200-S$599 per month, while only 29.7% and 38.3% of Chinese and Indians, respectively, were in this income bracket (Chiew, 1991). More recent statistics show that about 30% of working Malays are in the income bracket of below S$500-S$999 per month compared to 19% and 25% for Chinese and Indians respectively (Department of Statistics, 1998). There...