So what is the optimum size? In The Next Lap, published by the Singapore Government in 1993, it was recommended that “…with careful use of land, we can comfortably house 4 million people.” We have gone beyond this figure and that is why Singaporeans are starting to feel uncomfortable and agitated by the presence of so many people at the moment. What more if we push it to 6.9 million people and beyond? We must not forget that even if immigration were to cease, our country would still continue to grow for a while before it stabilises. This will place a lot of stress on our infrastructure like housing, schools, hospitals, and transport, and cause damage to our biodiversity. Is size an advantage for growth? According to Professor Leopold Kohr, there is a limit to the advantage of size. Any increase beyond that is counter-productive. There will be increasing social problems and the society has to pay the social cost, thus offsetting any economic gain. In his most popular work The Breakdown of Nations, he said that small nations and small economies are more peaceful, more prosperous and more creative than great powers or super states and they are better able to weather economic storms by being more flexible, less aggressive and more accountable to their people.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 22:56:21 +0000
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