Solving the low birth rate is quite easy and well within the
government's means.
( Btw, increasing the birth rate means increasing the
Singaporean CHINESE birth rate, as the Malays are reproducing quite
happily, thank you very much. No studying for them- too busy baby
making to study ;) )
Basically you give a lot more money.
The current baby bonus is quite low- $4000 to 6000. Even
Australia gives roughly twice as much.
This is what I propose.
For the next 3 years, every second baby onwards results in
$500,000 being given to the parents, under the following
conditions:
1. Parents are married at least 2 years.
2. Parents have degrees. (this can be modified to include poly
tech diploma holders, but it's the Chinese who need to be
encouraged remember?)
Now last year, about 3,000 people were eligible under the baby
bonus scheme. Usually about 36,000 to 40,000 babies are born each
year.
By offering to make instant half millionaires of couples,
this should triple or quadruple over the 3 years to around 120,000
babies per year.
Can the Govt afford it?
Hell yes.
Say 80,000 of the 120,000 are 2nd or 3rd children (not 1st
born)
80,000 x $500,000 is $40 billion per year.
Over 3 years is $120 billion.
Currently Temasek has around $200 to 300 billion.
Thus for a 3 year investment, they vastly increase the wealth of
the Singaporean Chinese, they get huge increases in population in
just 3 years- no need to give PR or citizenship to foreigners, and
they will even increase the boys available for NS in the
future.
Problem solved.
Does anyone else have any other solutions? :)
