I refer to the article “S’pore no longer one of best 30 places for retirees” (Straits Times, Mar 2).
S’pore drops 13 places?
It states that “it slides from 28th to 41st on index.
Dropped to 125th for income equality?
Singapore ranked a poor 125th spot for income equality, worse than the previous year’s 117th place”
- More than 200,000 full-time, part-time and self-employed persons earn lesd than $1,000 a month. I estimate about 400,000 and 600,000 earn less than $1,200 and $1,500 respectively.
Quality of life dropped to 75th?
“Singapore’s quality of life index, which measures the level of happiness and fulfilment in society as well as environment factors, dropped to 75th place from 39th last year.
Health index dropped to 59th?
It also dipped in the health index, from 56th spot last year to 59th this year … high levels of out-of-pocket health expenditure”
Highest share – private healthcare expenditure?
- At about 67% – our private health expenditure is the highest among developed countries.
Level of happiness?
According to the Mercer’s 2012 Cost of Living Survey, Singapore is the 6th most expensive city out of 143 cities in the world – Singaporeans earn the lowest wages among the high-income countries – we also work the longest hours in world - Singapore has been ranked as having the 2nd highest work stress in Asia - among the the lowest fertility in the world – out of 224 countries- have been ranked the 2nd lowest libido as compared to over 40 countries.
Surveys such as the Gallup rank Singaporeans as having the least positive emotions, most emotionless and least optimistic, – the Happy Planet Index ranks Singapore at 90th – most unhappy, and the World Happiness Report 2013 ranks singapore as the 126th (most unhappy) and 144th (most emotionless) - Singaporeans are second least likely to help a stranger, out of 135 countries.
Leong Sze Hian
*Leong is the Past President of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, an alumnus of Harvard University, has authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been host of a money radio show, a daily newspaper column, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for Malaysiakini, executive producer of the movie Ilo Ilo (24 international awards). He has served as Honorary Consul of Jamaica and founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of Brunei and Indonesia. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors and 13 professional qualifications.