New Naratif’s Democracy Classrooms are a safe space where our community can come together, articulate our thoughts, and practice democracy.
Singapore is routinely cited as one of the most unequal countries in the world. By many measures, it is: one of the world’s highest concentrations of millionaires and billionaires per capita, even as 30% of working households do not earn enough for a minimum standard of living. Soaring inflation, a growing rich-poor divide, and declining social mobility have left Singaporeans feeling frustrated and unhappy.
The government has acknowledged this, introducing higher taxes, more cash handouts, and higher subsidies for lower income groups. It has also introduced the Forward Singapore feedback exercise. Yet ultimately Singapore does not have capital gains taxes, inheritance taxes, and remains structurally and ideologically favourable to the exploitation of the working class.
In The Citizens’ Agenda 2022 by New Naratif, Singaporeans told us that inequality was one of their greatest concerns. In this Democracy Classroom, we analyse inequality and discuss what should be done about it.
Join us on Saturday, 6 May 2023, to discuss, dissect, and articulate YOUR thoughts and opinions about the inequality in Singapore in our upcoming Democracy Classroom, happening at 22 Dickson Rd, Level 2 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Meet our speaker!
PJ Thum is a historian and both founder and Managing Director of New Naratif. A Rhodes Scholar, Commonwealth Scholar, Olympic athlete, and the only Singaporean to swim the English Channel, his work centres on Southeast Asian governance and politics.
If you’d like to know more about The Citizens’ Agenda Singapore, don’t forget to check out our explainer and learn about what Singaporeans said about their top 5 most important issues!
Entry is free to all members and non-members alike! No membership required! Just come down and hang out with us! See you there.
Explainer
- Inequality in Singapore by PJ Thum
Supplementary reading
- Capitalism, Inequality, and Ideology in Singapore by Garry Rodan
- It is internationally recognised as a basic right of workers. Just what is a living wage? by Ng Kok Hoe and Teo You Yenn
- Singapore inequality: How a tote bag sparked a debate about class by Nicholas Yong
Video explainer
The Show with PJ Thum — Ep 6 — Singapore’s Dependence on Foreign Funding and our Economic Quandary by PJ Thum
