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Op-ed published in Today, Feb. 6, 2013

By Trisha Craig

The Government deserves a great deal of credit for its much-anticipated White Paper on Population that has initiated a frank conversation on Singapore’s future, and has shown how the dynamics of family life, the exigencies of the labour market, the built environment and national identity are inextricably linked.

At its core, it ponders how to solve the issue of falling birth rates and an ageing population. Given that this is a global problem, are there any lessons that Singapore could adapt from other countries, particularly in terms of how some advanced economies have sustained their birth rates?

There are adjustments to work and family life that, approached judiciously, could help alleviate the burden that Singapore is likely to face in the coming decades. Increased availability of childcare and part-time employment may offer some help.

To see why these things make a difference requires an understanding of the calculations surrounding fertility that couples or women make.

As women become more highly educated, their expectations about work and family life shift. In particular, they expect to put their training to use and be employed. The dual-income family has become the norm in many countries. Continue reading …