2015-2016 Tourism Marketing Grant: Fill & Download for Free

This is who Pushpam Priya Chaudhary is:Born in Darbhanga (year unknown). Most probably around 32–34 years old and unmarried.Her grandfather was in Samata party. He unsuccessfully contested from Darbhanga Vidhan Sabha.Her father has been MLC from Darbhanga graduate constituency from 2008–2014. She has a sister called Juhi (possibly a pet name) working in London. Netaji ka sara beta beti bahar padhta hai aur wo Bihar ki public ko bewakoof banate hain.Her schooling is unknown (maybe from Holy Cross, Darbhanga). She has not really come forward and given information.Her graduation is from Symbiosis, Pune. When one of the youtube journalists asked her team about this, they refused citing privacy concerns!! Privacy in politics!! Seems management quota!! Tomtoming this LSE badge is pure BS. Kyu jitae apko? Kyonki aap LSE ki ho? Kejru bhi IIT ka hai waise to. Vision kya hai? Solution kya hai? Transformation plan kya hai?There is an audio clip on twitter (her own account) where she is speaking in heavily accented English (some strange accent, definitely not British) followed by her speaking in Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri etc. My question is if you had been in Bihar since birth till at least 2015–16 (for 27–28 years at least), how can u get a strange foreign accent in just 5 years?? I have lived in London as so have many of my friends, none of them speak to Indians in accented English. They may speak in accented English to foreigners. She clearly is showing off her accent to sound more intelligent (typical British raj mentality)Her Facebook and Twitter profile has been scrubbed clean. You cannot find anything relevant to the past. This got me curious and I searched and searched.She has earlier worked in Bihar Tourism. She was appointed on the recommendation of his father who was the then MLC. Neta ki beti hai.. can easily get a job in Bihar Tourism!! Baki log can come through SSC. There is an old Times of India article from 2012 which mentions the same. Usually, the secretary who is generally an IAS officer is only quoted in such news. However, unsurprisingly there is a mention of our friend here as well who is credited as the creative head as if there is such a position. Usually, the creative works are outsourced to agencies.She apparently took some punga with the then secretary and he was subsequently transferred the next day itself. The name of this secretary was Deepak Kumar. I can post links if asked.Apparently, there was an IRS officer called Anupam Suman. He was dismissed by Bihar govt. while claiming him to be responsible for 2019 Patna floods. He was merrily driving a car while listening to music while Patna was getting flooded. Such shamelessness. There is an ABP news link that can be searched. Anupam Suman was also the earlier secretary of BSTDC (after the transferred secretary)There are numerous solo photos that Anupam Suman and Pushpam Priya have separately posted where the background is the same!! A strong indicator that both are in relationship. Anupam Suman is single or divorced. However, I am not saying much here. Why would anyone post solo pictures with the same background as that of Anupam Suman. Seems strange.. I can post links if asked. It is likely that the relationship started around 2015–2016 during Anupam Suman's BSTDC stint.Her father claims that she was offered a Rs. 8 crore job which she refused because she wanted to work for “people of Bihar” - I doubt this. Even investment bankers with significant experience don't get this much salary. It is likely that She was not offered any jobShe spent Rs. 40–50 lacs in a single day on a print advertisement (two full pages in each newspaper). Took full-page ads in Bihar dailies. She was that stupid that she took ads in Hindi newspapers and published them in English. Seems that Rs. 40 lacs is a small amount for her else She would not have made such a mistake. Apparently her entire team of political strategists (around 10 people) is staying in a Patna hotel as almost all from outside Bihar. Aisa chalaenge Bihar? Hotel se? They are also looking forward to rent an office in Bailey Road and run it till elections.A full social media marketing team, based outside Bihar - most probably in London, is behind her as can be seen in fake-looking posts on her Facebook, Twitter and even quora here (see the answer of Cine gallery below - you will get an idea). Must be quite an expense.I suspect all this is Anupam Suman's black money that he has earned when he was PMC commissioner.All information can be verified on Google. - source of my informationDon't fall for this girl. A fraud of highest order. Neta ki beti hai.I don't have any prejudice against her. I am also willing to edit my comment here in her favor as and when more information becomes available. But, I feel people of Bihar have a right to know more about a CM candidate. Hence this answer.Also PS for PPC: In villages, don’t wear heels and a gothic black dress. Gaon wale chudail bolenge. What about the Bihari culture of saris?Thanks…. :)Edit (4th December 2020): I still appreciate the efforts made by Anupam Suman/ PPC during the Bihar elections. She got 5000 votes in Bankipore which is good. But if she wants to be a force in next elections, she should focus on the following:Don’t become Rahul Gandhi i.e. being visible only during elections. She should be active throughout next 5 years and cut back on long London holidays.Hand over the baton to Anupam Suman and go in the background. Bihar would like to give mandate to another Rabri Devi (a.k.a. rubber stamp CM).Anupam Suman should lead from the front. If there are any investigations for Patna floods, he should publicly face them and not hide behind Plurals Party.Stop taking Bihar public for granted. Lalu Yadav said once “Patna ke road ko Hema malini ka gaal bana denge”. Similar to this, she promised that Bihar will be made London. Ranchi jaisa bhi bana de to bahut hoga.Show humbleness and stop blaming EVMs etc. like other parties when they lose do (including BJP, Congress, JDU and RJD.Pay your education loan first which you have not done. If you had money you should have paid loan first and not taken full page newspaper ads. Practice what you preach.For those who accuse this answer of bias, let me tell you I will definitely vote for Plurals next time if they prove themselves to be worthy of Bihari votes and so will many like me.

Are you really sure Africa is not developing? I would check your facts because the fastest growing economies are African today. Learn more Africa is Back and Africa is Home.Some African countries are already developed and live way better quality lifestyles than many people in the West. Rule of law, education system, healthcare, strong economies, infrastructure, freedom of expression and other luxuries of a developed modern economy/country.Six of the top 10 Fastest Growing Economies in 2018 are African.GhanaGhana is a tale of remarkable fortunes. From 1992 up to now, the country has managed to hold peaceful elections and their economy has made a strong rebound.Image source: Accra, the capital city of GhanaThe discovery of major offshore oil deposits helped the recuperation of the economy. This year, Ghana is the world’s fastest growing economy as revealed by the World Bank, Brookings Institution, International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank.Oil prices have risen, and the country’s oil production has rapidly expanded. GDP growth at market price stands at 8.3% and is projected to reach 8.9%. In January, Ghana’s benchmark stock index achieved the world’s highest rate of growth, 19 percent.Summary of the country’s GDP growth rate:2015: 3.8%2016: 3.5%2017: 5.9%2018: 8.3%Cocoa production is also complementing the oil boom in creating such a fast-rising economy.Economy snapshot:Ghana has a market-based economy with relatively few policy barriers to trade and investment in comparison with other countries in the region. Ghana is also well-endowed with natural resources. Ghana's economy was strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels, but in recent years has suffered the consequences of loose fiscal policy, high budget and current account deficits, and a depreciating currency.2. EthiopiaEthiopia’s hold on being Africa’s fastest growing economy for years has been eclipsed by Ghana. However, the country's economy continues to grow. According to the Gates Foundation’s report dubbed “One foot on the ground, one foot in the air”, compiled by the Overseas Development Institute, the agriculture sector has enhanced the growth and development of Ethiopia.Image source: Addis Abbaba, the capital city of Ethiopia. Home to the African Union Headquarters.The real GDP growth rate for the country stands at 8.2% according to the World Bank. Despite the political turmoil that the country goes through, the IMF belive that the good times will last for some time.Summary of the country’s GDP growth rate:2015: 10.4%2016: 8%2017: 8.5%2018: 8.2%On average, Ethiopia’s economy is growing at 10% a year and it is expected to double within the next seven years. This means that by 2025, it will have grown to a middle-income nation. This is as reported by the World Bank.Economy snapshot:Ethiopia’s economy is concentrated in the services and agriculture sectors. The government has made a push to diversify into manufacturing, textiles, and energy generation. But while the country has seen and (per the World Bank) will continue to see high GDP growth, the per capita income remains one of the lowest in the world.3. Cote d’IvoireIn 2017, Côte d’Ivoire continued to be one of the most buoyant economies in Africa, with a growth rate expected to hold steady at around 7.6%. This time around, growth is forecasted at 7.2 %, a clear signal of a constant strong economic performance.One of my favorite cities in Africa. Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.This positive performance is due to the recovery in and shows Côte d’Ivoire’s resilience to domestic and foreign shocks. The short- and medium-term outlook remains encouraging.With the help of IMF, the country has been able to collect more taxes and control government spending which has lowered the budget deficit including grants.Summary of country’s GDP growth rate:2015: 8.9%2016: 7.7%2017: 7.6%2018: 7.2%Economy snapshot:About two-thirds of the population works in agriculture-related industries. The country is the world’s largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and is also a major player in the coffee and palm-oil industries.4. DjiboutiA small port country, Djibouti's economy hinges on services that take advantage of its strategic location at the Red Sea's southern entrance, as well as foreign investments and financing.Djibouti City, at the East Coast of the continent.The GDP of Djibouti increased in 2016 by 6.5% as a result of construction, transport services and port development. The forecast for this year puts growth at exactly 7%.The establishment of a free zone within the country, as well as the profits from a railway leading to Ethiopia, are also drivers of growth.Summary of country’s GDP growth rate:2015: 6.5%2016: 6.5%2017: 7%2018: 7%Economy snapshot:Djibouti's economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location as a deepwater port on the Red Sea. Three-fourths of Djibouti's inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scant rainfall and less than 4% arable land limits crop production to small quantities of fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported.5. SenegalSenegal wrapped up 2017 with the inauguration of its new airport that authorities hope will serve 3 million passengers, a hallmark of the country’s consistent positive growth records in the past few years.Dakar, SenegalIn its third quarter in 2017, the Senegalese economy grew at rate of 7.1%, its strongest since the last quarter of 2015, when it was at an all-time high. Growth for 2018 is forecast at 6.9%.Summary for country’s GDP growth rate:2015: 6.8%2016: 6.7%2017: 6.8%2018: 6.9%President Macky Sall has the goodwill to forge ahead, not only in his country but as a leader in francophone West Africa.Economy snapshot:Senegal’s economy is driven by mining, construction, tourism, fisheries and agriculture, which are the primary sources of employment in rural areas. The country's key export industries include phosphate mining, fertilizer production, agricultural products and commercial fishing and it is also working on oil exploration projects. Senegal relies heavily on donor assistance, remittances and foreign direct investment. Senegal reached a growth rate of 6.5% in 2015 and surpassed that in 2016-17, due in part to a buoyant performance in agriculture because of higher rainfall and productivity in the sector.6. TanzaniaTanzania has achieved high growth rates based on its vast natural resource wealth and tourism with GDP growth in 2009-17 averaging 6%-7% per year. This year, growth is expected to hover around 6.8%.Dar-es-Salaam, TanzaniaDespite looming poverty in the country, the new political leader, President John Magufuli is a promising change to the country. He is already in the process of minimizing the country’s overspending by cutting cost of unnecessary government spending, although this has come with concerns that the country’s democracy is being eroded gradually due to Magufuli’s autocratic practices.Summary of country’s GDP growth rate:2015: 7%2016: 7%2017: 6.5%2018: 6.8%Source website: The 6 Fastest Growing Economies in Africa, 2018 | The African ExponentOn this list, I would add countries such as Rwanda, Morocco, Botswana, Seychelles, Mauritius, South Africa, Zambia, and many others.Didier Champion's answer to What is the most progressive nation in Africa?My Top 10: Botswana, Mauritius, South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Kenya, Namibia, and Zambia.My votes for the most progressive nations in Africa goes between Mauritius and Botswana. Both of these countries have small population 1.3 million for Mauritius and 2.3 million for Botswana ( As of 2016 Census).Strong economies, relatively high GDP per capita ( PPP): About $ 20,000.00 for Mauritius & $ 17,000.00 for Botswana). Lower levels of poverty and unemployment rates.Sustainable infrastructure: Best Universities for finance, medecine and engineering.Rule of law: Best political systems with strong institutions.Freedom to express oneself and civil liberties.Sustainable Education system and healthcare coverage for all.7. Gaberone, the capital city of Botswana8. Port-Louis, the capital city of MauritiusAfrica is BIG and each country is different.African countries cannot be bundle in one. There are low income countries, lower and upper middle income countries, and higher income countries. Their economic strengths and political stability, systems of government are different from Botswana, to South Africa, to Egypt, Morocco, Rwanda, and many others.Image source: Africa 101It is very hard bundle a whole continent in one. Just like, you don’t bundle America ( North and South America) in one, Asia or Europe ( Western and Eastern ) Europe and Asia ( India is different Singapore, Thailand, etc) in one, you cannot do the same for Africa.Until people learn how to do that especially talking about economics, you will always be mistaken.I will add a few other bonus from the countries who are already developed.9. SeychellesImage source: I call it the “paradise island” on earth. Who needs heaven when you got Seychelles? This place is just “sexy” and beautiful. Same beauty as Mauritius, but much more affordable for average travelers like me.10. MoroccoImage source: Tangier, Morocco on the Mediterranean seaMorocco is a combination of Arab, African, and French cultures together in one place by the sea. It does not get any better than that. Only in Morocco.Image source: FriendlyMorocccoI will finish up with Rwanda, my homecountry. We are not developed yet, but we are heading in the right direction. We are definitely a country with lots of potential.Photo Credit: Rwanda the Heart of AfricaEllen Degeneres in Rwanda last month ( May 2018)Within the premise of this question, I would argue that Africa is more developed than you think. You don’t get to see much of this version of Africa in the media. It is the danger of a single story. When everything you see about Africa is negative. Be careful of the confirmation bias or implicit bias.Learn more Africa is Back and Africa is Home about the real Africa.Hope this helps.Didier Champion

In descending order of importance, if Space management, Workforce quality, Parenting methodologies + Education system do not get overhauled, S’pore’s economic success is bound to rapidly deteriorate.(Edit: I have the solutions for the problems below)Whatever I put in italics are the current challenges. For your googling benefit.This is a long one. Brace yourself.Unlike what the population whitepaper (2013) suggested, our rapidly aging population is NOT the most endangering to our economic sustainability. While it portends a shrinking domestic workforce and customer base, with less workers to support the industries and less customers to sell to, they are not highly relevant to the future economy. Additionally to resolve this through artificial population injection via foreign migrants, may not only NOT alleviate the burden on the younger generations who have to support a larger population of older, less able S’poreans, but exacerbate the issues that will undermine S’pore’s economic success.First of all, a shrinking workforce is not a problem in the future economy. The world is moving away from the industrial era where a small number of decision makers rule conglomerates, assigning jobs with specific scope of work to the masses, much like the workers of a machine line. In recent years, a large number of corporations traditionally thought to be resistant to negative economic impacts have closed shop or downsized through massive retrenchment exercises worldwide, and S’pore is following suit. The way is opening up to a future of numerous smaller-sized, technologically supported companies with a short to medium term life span, with a lean structure comprised of mentally agile and multi-skilled employees whose work roles are less clearly defined. Often skilled, even highly skilled independent workers will be contracted on a project basis.The problem with S’poreans is that their skills are of little relevance to the future’s knowledge-based workforce. If S’poreans do not transform to accommodate future requirements, then the problem of talent shortfall will persist to disrupt businesses’ sustainability. Therefore it is the quality of the workforce that matters, not so much the size.Even with the reasoning that a larger population size will increase the chance of locating quality, if at 5.9 m population mark, just 1.0 m shy of 6.9 m, 96% of employers still state that they face skills shortage, what is the probability of rectifying this problem with an additional 1.0 m population figure? The obvious solution is that S’poreans right here right now have to be the ones to provide the quality seeked. Yet S’poreans ability to transform is also handicapped by the below factors.A shrinking customer base is also not a substantial threat to our economy because the domestic market has never been a major income source. S’pore made its mark through the import/export trade. What counts is our foreign clientele base… although the prognosis is not favourable and it has to do with Cost of Space.Multiple sectors and industries relying on foreign customers have been affected by slowing global demand. Even the only consistently performing one may be hitting a plateau. The tourism sector might have broke records for visitor arrivals and income in 2017, but emerging tourism market segments lauded for their high potential have fizzled out. When hotel rates are 3rd most expensive in Asia Pacific and costly medical services considered, medical tourists flock to regional competitors like Msia and Thailand. (Even S’poreans are going elsewhere). Businesses are also finding it too costly for associates to travel to S’pore, thus threatening the BTMICE segment that accounts for ¼ of our tourism receipts. In 2017, S’pore went up a notch to be the 3rd most expensive place for business travellers in Asia Pacific.The problem with the high cost of space is not isolated. Office rent in the CBD has risen to be more expensive than that of Miami in Florida. Businesses grapple with falling profits and rising overheads. Naturally businesses reduce pay packages as cost-cut measures. Luxurious pay packages for expats a thing of the past. Most on localised paychecks. This affects workforce quality. Foreign manpower expertise shortfall in many industries.With reduced pay, foreign professionals feel the financial strain of living here. S’pore is in the 5th year running as the most expensive city for expats.The Global Schoolhouse project is a dismay when elite foreign institutions took off with some citing high operating costs including that of rent, aggravated by lukewarm student enrolments. S’pore topped the charts for the most expensive place for foreign students, and rent is no doubt a high price for a student to pay.A study in NUS found considerable number of S’poreans bearing the brunt of unaffordable housing as ⅓ of their monthly income goes toward servicing mortgage loans. Income raises lagging behind property price increases is cause for more worry. The burden of meeting housing payments keep S’poreans in fear of losing their jobs, and an unhealthy situation has arised. The need for employers’ approval prevents challenging of the status quo. Long work hours are kept to even when much of it is spent on pointless activities. Longest work week of 44 hours globally. This is one reason for diminished motivation at work. Low workforce productivity. Suggestions for change can lead to longer work hours. Best to just keep to existing standards. SMEs lack innovation, are change resistant. Work is so stressful. Increase in Major Depressive Disorder for the middle-aged and suicides for 20 - 29 years age range. Quality of the workforce affected.Potential entrepreneurs typically fall within the range of marriageable age, face dilemma of self-employment impeding their qualifying for home ownership. Prudent family members including wife-to-be stand in favor of not rocking the boat, strongly influencing one’s final decision. Lack of entrepreneurial instincts.Parents transfer the stress of keeping their rice bowl intact by urging children to study even harder to gain competitive advantage, starting them at younger age, for longer hours. Increase in childhood mental health issues and teenage suicides. Parents are then apprehensive about having more kids who will not only add to expenses but face the similar challenges they went through. Besides there isn’t even time to have sex. Low fertility rate. There isn’t time for spouse as well. Divorce rates increase. Might as well not get married. Less couples tie the knot.As a result of paying the accrued interest on CPF utilised to pay for housing, and not being able to earn CPF interest on the sum used, retirement amount is significantly reduced. Half the population of 65 - 69 years are in the workforce putting in long hours with no minimum wage… so it couldn’t be that they enjoy working. Moreover life span might have increased but so have the number of years spent in ill health. Increase in aged mental health issues and suicides.The entire life trajectory of a S’porean doesn’t sound enticing.While there are other contributing factors to the above mentioned, they all present one underlying theme - the affordability of space (property/land). Can you see how determining it is of our economic and social well being?Now what then determines the cost of space? The cost of space is fundamentally an issue of availability. Less land/property available equates to higher prices charged. Contrary to popular thought, people are not the country’s only natural resource. Without this piece of land, S’pore as a country wouldn’t even exist. Albeit of an extremely small area of 720 km2, that only makes it more precious. When 13,700 people are placed in every square kilometre [*calculated based on developable areas as per the whitepaper], space utility had better be damn well managed.How is Space managed in S’pore?While there is no doubt that land use is meticulously planned and policies are implemented for the benefit of S’poreans, there are adverse outcomes in areas approached with a reductionist mindset.Example 1.In 2007 - 2011 foreign direct investments led to 50% surge in property prices. Having gone way over the range of affordability for serious home buyers, property cooling measures to curb buyers’ eligibility were introduced in 2011, with the anticipation that falling demand would drive prices down. The interest in the private housing market fizzled out and prices began the descent from 2013 - 2017 dipping by (approx) 12% to its lowest.Then end 2017, prices started to go back up. Same goes for 1st half of 2018. Prices are likely to rise 8 - 10% for the year of 2018.Turns out the cooling measures did not effect a drop in prices for a significant period.Oh well… no big deal, you think. Actually it is a huge deal.An event that interrupts the top of the supply chain of a sector can cause a ripple effect throughout its ecosystem, subsequently impacting related sectors and industries, then rippling out to the rest. And the property sector has one of the most extensive economic ecosystem. In 2017, 1 in 5 persons or 18.8% in the workforce is directly involved in real estate and construction. Other jobs directly affected include valuers, conveyance lawyers, mortgage bankers, facility managers, architects, engineers and various service providers. Residential property is a major asset class worth $833.5 billion. Mortgages make up about 30% of local banking portfolio. Home ownership is at over 90% of all households with a portion who depend on rental as an income source.When source of income for these people are cut off, other sectors in turn get affected as consumer spending shrinks. With considerable number of people experiencing such, there will be a large enough impact on the economy. While the effects of cooling measures cannot be considered the only contributor to the economic slowdown, it has its reasonable share.The Property sector is the bedrock of the Singapore economy. What came down was much more than the prices of property.This matters.Example 2.As a result of the cooling measures where property transactions hit record lows, continual yearly supply of newly completed homes added to the bulk of unsold and unoccupied units, totaling 32,000+ at its peak in 2017, recording a 10 year high vacancy rate of 8.9%. This is a lot of unused space. The only method to address this is to impose hefty fines on property developers (with foreign directors and almost all of them do) for not selling the units by a certain time frame. To avoid the penalty, some developers buy over those units under a subsidiary.But this is meaningless towards fulfilling the goal of reducing property prices. Nor does it address the vacant and wasted spaces.Example 3.Considering that a large number of new homes have been unoccupied for years, although the vacancy rate has fallen to 8.4% (2018), recent release of government land sales and the redevelopment of en-bloc sites will add another 20,000 units from 20 new residential projects, flooding the market in the near future.Build, then leave empty, then build more… On land scarce, congested Singapore.Example 4.For almost a decade, S’pore’s huge population had the public hospitals plagued with bed shortages even as more and more new facilities were progressively added on to meet the demand. At end 2016 there were 13,931 beds. By 2022, 4 facilities will offer 4,250 beds. By 2030, another facility will be ready. By 2032, 8 new polyclinics will be completed to reduce the load for hospitals. Yet, based on the 6.9 M population, the ratio of hospital bed to 1,000 people only slightly increases from 2.2 (Year 2010) to 2.8 (Year 2030) (approx).So how? Build more?Apart from technology to facilitate timely discharge... to community hospitals and nursing homes (still occupying space), and patients’ homes (sounds good), there other methods of addressing the overcrowding such as preventive care. But the methods are hardly preventive at all. Perhaps time to address the root causes of illnesses? Anyway this is altogether another topic.Public hospitals also faced a backlash from S’poreans for accepting medical tourists when beds are in shortfall. They have had to tone down operations, thus compromising on the knowledge to be acquired from a larger variety of diseases that foreigners can provide. This affects the transitioning to a knowledge based economy.Example 5.The tourism sector may be high performing but hotels functioning at high occupancy is a threat to the tourism business. High demand means high prices and this has already affected certain tourism segments as mentioned above. In 2018, Colliers stated that hotels in S’pore are full almost all the time during peak periods, and especially during Mon to Thurs, and Sat nights. Hotel demand has constantly outstripped hotel room stock since 2011.In 2015, there were 398 hotels and 60,908 rooms. By end 2017, there were 420 hotels with a total of 67,084 rooms. Another 3,372 rooms were in the pipeline. There is a mention of a need to build more.Going forward, how viable is the ‘build more’ approach? Bed capacity is as low and hotel rooms are as filled while remaining land has decreased and cost of space driven up? What about the large number of houses left vacant?S’pore is now the 4th most expensive city in Asia to construct a building. Note ‘city’ and not ‘country’. This means construction costs are more expensive here than many other bustling Asian cities. Costs are then transferred to the end users and the cycle repeats itself, where the high cost of space impacts the decisions of the people which negatively impacts the economy.Workforce quality is influenced by the cost of space as a result of Space Management as I’ve brought up earlier on, and also the Education System. If edu continues to be rigid, linear and tightly guided, the future workforce will not be suitable for the new economy.The education system needs to stop telling people what to think. Let people think for themselves.S’pore is full of textbook specialists - specialists whose know-how is narrowly constrained by the edu system. These specialists will not entertain other schools of thought. They are so enamoured by their elite education, not realising that contemplating opposing ideas can provide wisdom that one lacks. This is Stockholm Syndrome where the victim assumes the kidnapper has saved him from the ills of the world and does not want to believe otherwise.If one’s world is just the fish tank, then the resources one has to draw on solving a problem is limited to the fish tank. True specialisation is trans-disciplinary and objective. For a fair assessment, one must inquire into as many areas as possible, constantly testing one’s convictions. If an oncologist is to treat cancer patients, he must understand the entire scope of how cancer came about and ascertain if chemotherapy is the best solution. If not, he is just a salesman selling chemotherapy spa, which is a highly lucrative job I’ve noticed.The complex economic and social challenges today are caused by reductionist thinking, only considering one aspect, giving little credence to all other related areas.S’porean parents are themselves stressed out by the Cost of Space, and the competitiveness as a result, thus pushing their children to excel. However to do so and within the outdated edu system, is counterproductive. Not only do the children not acquire the right set of skills for the workforce of the future, they are driven to madness. This severely impacts their ability to navigate life.In any case the form of parental care has largely shifted away from the form of care children really needs.Experts aren’t kidding when they state the 1st 8 years of a child’s life is the most crucial. Any disruption in the nurturing process nature has intended have lifelong consequences. Infants need their mothers more than the 1st 3 -4 months of life. Babies are overwhelmed enough in this new world, and is only going to be more confused in the childcare with a ton of other equally confused babies. A domestic helper who is only here temporarily causes emotional destabilisation to the child who has never known separation. Grandparents are good only if the parents themselves have flourished in their care.Desperate for parental love and presence yet unable to adequately communicate, the formative years are disrupted, preventing the build up of a strong foundation that will grant them the confidence to weather storms in their later years. Depression and suicide rates of the young are on the rise in S’pore. A wake up call?What’s the point of an entire nation of emotionally-stunted, mentally unstable and unhappy people? Would you entrust them with acting in the best interests of the economy and the society? Economic success is not just an economic issue. A well-supported social structure is a crucial ingredient for economic sustainability.Now as you can see, resolving the problem of rapidly aging society by increasing the population figure will not only NOT promise to get quality migrants with adequate skills and capabilities, but will definitely add on to the congestion in S’pore and the competition that is driving parents astray. Additionally in the future where the number of jobs will continue to downsize, where there is no need for workforce quantity but quality, more people on this island will increase the burden on the future younger generations, contrary to what the whitepaper suggested.For S’pore not to lose its economic success, these are the points to address. In ascending order of importance: Parental care and the Education system prepares the children for the future. Workforce quality is imminent. Space management is long overdue!And no, I do NOT think it is solely the government to make the changes above. Even if they do make the changes, they can’t do them all at once, and the people need to change the way they view things as well before progress can happen. You see, the government has given a strong support system to facilitate workforce upgrade, but the speed of change is slow because the people are not fully cooperating with the changes due to a ‘stuck’ mentality. They still focus on the negatives of everything in S’pore… A Mindset Change of the people will be a great complement to improvements in social and economic policies, and speed up progress.If only they knew.*Disclaimer, when I refer to S’poreans or People, I do not mean all S’poreans and people of S’pore. I meant majority.EDIT: The following are solutions for these problems,good space management strategies to help lower costs for all the affected parties which solves a lot of problems;Revive Medical tourism, sustain BTMICE segment and Education hub.Facilitate foreign professionals relocation.better ways to locate matching workforce skills and capabilities;supporting parents in caregiving;reducing congestionI am looking for potential business partners for Points 1 to 4. If you are a serious party, please contact me/pm me for simple, creative and well-thought-out solutions, and be ready to open up about your intentions, background and other questions I may have.