Michael Barr explores the complex and covert networks of power at work in one of the world's most prosperous countries - the city-state of Singapore. He argues that the contemporary networks of power are a deliberate project initiated and managed by Lee Kuan Yew - former prime minister and Singapore's 'founding father' - designed to empower himself and his family. Barr identifies the crucial institutions of power - including the country's sovereign wealth funds, and the government-linked companies - together with five critical features that form the key to understanding the nature of the networks. He provides an assessment of possible shifts of power within the elite in the wake of Lee Kuan Yew's son, Lee Hsien Loong, assuming power, and considers the possibility of a more fundamental democratic shift in Singapore's political system.

This monograph seeks the key to good economic policy by explaining Singaporea s remarkably rapid development-the worlda s fastest-growing economy between 1960 and 2000-and asks whether the city-statea s success can be translated to other countries. Engineering prosperity is at the heart of Singapore. The book demonstrates how exceptional cohesion amongst economic outcomes, policies, institutions, values, and leadership over a long period account for the impressive results obtained. The author is careful not to present Singapore as a model to be copied uncritically in its specifics but as a case history that illustrates general principles which other countries might wish to apply to their particular circumstances. Well-researched yet highly readable, Singaporea s Success: Engineering Economic Growth will appeal to Singaporeans and a wide international audience, including policy-makers and advisors, students of development economics, and anyone interested in the quest for sustained economic growth.

Singapore is recognised to be one of the most successful economies in the world given its rapid economic and social transformation. Its success is the result of a judicious blend of markets and government, high-quality governance, and public policies that are coherent, consistent and coordinated.This book showcases the contribution of Economics to Singapore's public policymaking. To illustrate the diverse areas that economic analysis has contributed to, this book comprises three sections that span the economic and non-economic policy domains in Singapore. Section I covers economic policies relating to economic growth, trade, investments, productivity, innovation, industrial development, the enterprise landscape and manpower. Section II highlights socioeconomic and security policies, and covers themes such as income inequality and mobility, families, healthcare costs and crime. In Section III, the focus is on infrastructural policies relating to the environment, housing and land transport.This book commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Singapore Government's Economist Service. As the premier service for economists in the Singapore public sector, the Economist Service plays an integral role in supporting evidence-based policymaking through rigorous economic research and analysis of public policies.