Singapore Government

Research papers on Singapore's government focus on the success of the city/state and its economic policies that the government fostered. You can have a research paper on Singapore written to outline any aspect of the government that you wish to have explicated.

The open, free-market economy of the city-state of Singapore has attracted investment from some of the world's largest corporations. Tax and financial incentives to businesses and other favorable government policies have promoted continued economic expansion. The government plays a fairly active role in the economy through various statutory boards and by participating in joint ventures with multinationals. To encourage a greater sense of enterprise, however, the government has recently embarked on a privatization program of considerable magnitude.

The Singapore government has long recognized that high levels of foreign investment are the key to the country's continued economic success. As such, they have aggressively developed strategies designed to lure in foreign investors in every sector of the economy.

In recent years, the Singapore government has even taken the bold step of removing extant obstacles to foreign investment in a number of key industries that have traditionally remained the exclusive province of the government and its associated corporate entities. These industries include the financial services industry, the utilities industry, telecommunication, and the retail sector.

Governmental History of Singapore

Singapore has the third highest per capita GDP in the Pacific Rim, behind Japan and Australia. It is one of the world's biggest oil refiners and is home to hundreds of multinational manufacturers. Political stability has enabled Singapore to become a high-technology center with on of the highest living standards in Asia. Singapore's status as a financial center enhances its role in regional business strategies and points to an active future in the Far East region. The thriving economy of Singapore is well served by its strategic geographic location in Asia, and the prosperity has occurred despite its sizes and lack on natural resource.

As a former colonial trading post Singapore was and still is at a crossroad between East Asia and Southern Asia, between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. "Singapore in the 1990s aspired to be a 'global city' serving world markets and major corporations the city had become a manufacturing center with one of the highest incomes in the region and a persistent labor shortage. As one of Asia's four 'little dragons' or newly industrializing economies Singapore was characterized by an export-oriented economy, relatively equitable income distribution, trade surpluses and a common heritage of Chinese civilization and Confucius values." Having no natural resources of its own, Singapore is forced to take best advantage of its two assets; its people and its location.

Research Papers Show How Governmental Policies Lead to the Success of Singapore

As has been suggested, government takes a very proactive role in Singapore's economy.

• The government of Singapore is based on a parliamentary model
• A ceremonial president is head of state
• The actual day-to-day operation of the government is done by the prime minister and cabinet representing the majority party in the unicameral parliament
• The People's Action Party (PAP) is the majority party, having held power since 1959

The primary goals of the Singapore government have been to provide continuity, order and predictability. Policies have been designed to stress economic development, government management of the economy and society. In bringing this goal about there is little government toleration for violations of the laws or for dissent.

Over the course of the ensuring forty years, a wide array of strategic policies have been developed and implemented on the part of the government of Singapore. Although the specific details and objectives of these economic policies have varied significantly, most share a number of key, fundamental similarities. For example, the Singapore government has implemented an array of policies and initiatives that are staunchly in favor of business and foreign investment in the country. In addition, the strategic policies that have been favored by the Singapore government have often been ardently supportive of an export-oriented market economy, even during the earlier era in which such an approach was regarded with some degree of suspicion.

In addition to this approach, Singapore has relied on state-run investment entities as a means of developing wealth and capital for the country. In most Western countries with free markets, for example, the notion of state-run corporations would be regarded as excessively intrusive upon the dynamics of the market. However, in Singapore, this strategy has been relied upon extensively as a means of establishing both a measure of stability and dynamic growth within the domestic market.

In the years following its attainment of political and economic autonomy, Singapore faced a dire situation. From a perspective informed by traditional economic and political theory, Singapore was ill-positioned to achieve economic growth and stability.

However, because the government of Singapore devised a number of unique policies that combined the advantages of free market capitalism and centralized governance of the market, the country has been able to create a strong economy from relatively few natural resources. The chief strategies all involved bold government policies and initiatives, some of which clearly prioritized economic performance over individual freedoms. Singapore's strategies could prove to be advantageous for other developing and emerging nations that are seeking to establish a strong domestic economy and to attain a position of influence and competitive advantage within the global market.