I admit I used to be a harsh critic of the Singapore government, especially after reading Forum and hearing the ahsohs and ahpeis talk about the blood-sucking, all-smiles-on-the-outside, eat-up-all-u-have-behind-ur-back PAP government. But actually I think the Singapore government does have its merits after all. Yadayada I'm a PSC scholar but NO I HAVE NOT BEEN BRAINWASHED. I'm writing an Economics paper on the Area Licensing Scheme, and its so amazing that the small sunny island-not-even-big-enough-to-be-recognized-by-some-people-as-a-country Singapore has been able to implement congestion control policies that beats other countries' pathetic attempts. Its like I'm reading about how the road pricing strategy in Singapore was a success compared to those in Norway and UK... and its pretty cool to read about why such a strategy worked in Singapore and not elsewhere.
1. Singapore's "one-tier government", in other words the PAP, is able to implement policies without much public opposition. What's worth acknowledging is the fact that the government did not misuse this power (at least in the land transport area). It's so common to hear about governments who win a big majority during the elections and then lose power in 4-5 years because they start abusing their power and in the end there's widespread corruption etc etc. Singapore actually managed to refrain from that.... and the traffic control policies were in fact not meant to suck the $ out of the poor man's pockets. I mean... based on literature written by authors all over the world (I read like 15 papers already), everyone agreed that the policies implemented were in fact not for revenue-raising purposes but solely for the purpose of reducing traffice congestion. Of course, eventually these policies did result in > revenue... but a lot of it was put back into the MRT or road tax rebates. So at least for the transport policies in Singapore... the government actually wasn't taxing ppl for no reason.
2. There's so much thought put into the implementation of a policy. And that's one of the reasons why road pricing worked in Singapore, cos the policy was complemented by various other measures. Like... conglomeration of bus companies to increase efficiency of public transport, developing the MRT, decentralization of residences from the CBD... building of ring roads... lots of public education...
And there's this ongoing review process for ERP prices... to keep traffic speeds within the optimal range.
I'm so ignorant sometimes man. Only when I actually go find out about such things then I'll be like WOW I SO DIDN'T KNOW THAT. I mean.... I'm not like the super on about public affairs kind of person, and perhaps most of u guys will read this and be like... "no big deal what"... but yah... I must say I am quite impressed lah. And somehow writing this paper has like switched on some small tiny lamp in my head, telling me that a career in public service is actually gonna be rewarding.
1. Singapore's "one-tier government", in other words the PAP, is able to implement policies without much public opposition. What's worth acknowledging is the fact that the government did not misuse this power (at least in the land transport area). It's so common to hear about governments who win a big majority during the elections and then lose power in 4-5 years because they start abusing their power and in the end there's widespread corruption etc etc. Singapore actually managed to refrain from that.... and the traffic control policies were in fact not meant to suck the $ out of the poor man's pockets. I mean... based on literature written by authors all over the world (I read like 15 papers already), everyone agreed that the policies implemented were in fact not for revenue-raising purposes but solely for the purpose of reducing traffice congestion. Of course, eventually these policies did result in > revenue... but a lot of it was put back into the MRT or road tax rebates. So at least for the transport policies in Singapore... the government actually wasn't taxing ppl for no reason.
2. There's so much thought put into the implementation of a policy. And that's one of the reasons why road pricing worked in Singapore, cos the policy was complemented by various other measures. Like... conglomeration of bus companies to increase efficiency of public transport, developing the MRT, decentralization of residences from the CBD... building of ring roads... lots of public education...
And there's this ongoing review process for ERP prices... to keep traffic speeds within the optimal range.
I'm so ignorant sometimes man. Only when I actually go find out about such things then I'll be like WOW I SO DIDN'T KNOW THAT. I mean.... I'm not like the super on about public affairs kind of person, and perhaps most of u guys will read this and be like... "no big deal what"... but yah... I must say I am quite impressed lah. And somehow writing this paper has like switched on some small tiny lamp in my head, telling me that a career in public service is actually gonna be rewarding.
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