Learnt a new term "Post-Materialism" in today's Sunday Times article taken from the New York Times. The article provides a glimpse into the book written by Tyler Cowen named "The Great Stagnation". The author perceives that the US is facing a slowdown or plateau in economic growth because the belief that earning more money brings about a higher quality of life no longer holds true for many people there. These people have a post-materialism mindset which focuses more on living a meaningful life and one of diverse experiences. Comparisons are made between a man born in 1900 and one in the late 1970s, where the former believed the good life could be attained if he earned more income to purchase products which offered material comfort for him and his family. This fuelled consumerism and propelled industrial growth which provided jobs, income and economic growth. This is in contrast with say his grandson who is in his 20s or 30s who loves Facebook, You-tube, Wikipedia which all cost nothing and are provided by people for free. He also prefers holidays which bring him exciting experiences rather than the luxurious comfort of a resort.
I recall my daughter telling me about her classmates in US suspending their education for a year of two to pursue new experiences. This includes volunteering in overseas humanities projects or with some NGOs etc. It makes me think that with affluence young people may be quantum-leaping up Maslow's hiearachy of needs, ie. going for self actualisation even before mid life. I guess it is not such a bad thing after all but I do wonder how life pans out for them. So may be you go round the world, gain a broader perpective and world view and then decide what you want out of life.
Anyway I do not think this is something Singapore is facing. The fact that we are having double digit growth and looking at how alive and kicking consumerism is amongst our young people, I think we are not at "Post-Materialism" phase yet. So the government has a easy task by just fuelling their appetite. However I guess with those wealthy baby boomers who rode on the economic boom, this Post-Materialism mindset may be something they can relate to when they discover that the new Benz or luxurious cruise only excites them briefly and at the back of their mind they are constantly wondering what will really help them achieve a "better" life.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Of Children
Various people's opinion were sought for their wishes and ideas over the coming government budget. One professional cheek-in-tongue made a very creative suggestion to tackle the falling birth rate in Singapore. He remembered how decades ago to avoid a population explosion, one of the measures adopted by the government to discourage people from having more than 2 children was to suffer the third and later child a very low priority to enter primary school of choice. The method proved to be very effective as most parents worry that their would be "little Einsteins" were not given the rich breeding ground to develop their abilities. Hence this guy suggested that to reverse the trend of the falling birth rate the government should now allow the third or later child the highest priority to choose any schools the parents fancy. To make it even more effective, he toyed with the idea that as long as a mother has or is carrying a third or subsequent child, the elder siblings of the unborn child should also be given higher priorities for primary one application. Given that kiasuism is one of the icon of Singapore, albeit a negative one, I think his idea is brilliant.
However I personally think that this idea may only work with couples who already have a family or have intention to start one. It doesn't work with couples who choose not to have children. In fact the very observation of kiasu parents giving so much focus and energy into getting their kids to top schools may reinforce these couples' fear of producing children into the world just to suffer the stress of the rat race. It also magnifies the energy and time they themselves will have to put in should they choose to be parents. Nevertheless it is an idea worth further consideration.
Of late there is quite a lot of comments on nurture and nature following MM's observations that top schools have more students with graduate parents. The Straits Times subsequently interviewed 10 students from top schools who came from poor families. From these interviews the ST Editorial remarked that one crucial factor was largely forgotten admist the nurture vs nature debate which is the "determination to suceed and rise above the circumstances", hence the need to instil in the students from disadvantaged background the conviction that a better future is within their reach if they work hard enough.
A truly remarkable observation but I feel it is also easier said than done. Lets not forget that those student that made it to the top schools despite their disadvantaged backgroud is still a minority. I remember my shock when I found out that only about 40% of the previous Primary 6 cohort in my school (a neighbourhood school)got into the express stream which means that more than half land up in Normal Academic or Normal Technical. My interaction with these students often make me marvel/laugh at their intelligence/wit but accompanied with shock at their lack of command of English and poor foundation in other subjects. Most of the students in my school do not have tuition and struggle to find help in doing their school work. I often wonder how academically smart they would have been if only they have the same nurture as other little "Einsteins" in branded schools.
However I personally think that this idea may only work with couples who already have a family or have intention to start one. It doesn't work with couples who choose not to have children. In fact the very observation of kiasu parents giving so much focus and energy into getting their kids to top schools may reinforce these couples' fear of producing children into the world just to suffer the stress of the rat race. It also magnifies the energy and time they themselves will have to put in should they choose to be parents. Nevertheless it is an idea worth further consideration.
Of late there is quite a lot of comments on nurture and nature following MM's observations that top schools have more students with graduate parents. The Straits Times subsequently interviewed 10 students from top schools who came from poor families. From these interviews the ST Editorial remarked that one crucial factor was largely forgotten admist the nurture vs nature debate which is the "determination to suceed and rise above the circumstances", hence the need to instil in the students from disadvantaged background the conviction that a better future is within their reach if they work hard enough.
A truly remarkable observation but I feel it is also easier said than done. Lets not forget that those student that made it to the top schools despite their disadvantaged backgroud is still a minority. I remember my shock when I found out that only about 40% of the previous Primary 6 cohort in my school (a neighbourhood school)got into the express stream which means that more than half land up in Normal Academic or Normal Technical. My interaction with these students often make me marvel/laugh at their intelligence/wit but accompanied with shock at their lack of command of English and poor foundation in other subjects. Most of the students in my school do not have tuition and struggle to find help in doing their school work. I often wonder how academically smart they would have been if only they have the same nurture as other little "Einsteins" in branded schools.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
CNY reflection
As with every Chinese New Year's routine of visiting and catching up with relatives and friends, I will end up being very reflective when all is over. As I gather updates on various people's lives especially that of my cousins', I seem to be watching rolls of film that unfurl before my eyes. I remember them as children, as teenagers, as youths, as young parents; and that was when the yearly big gathering of 4 generations stopped with the passing away of my grandma followed gradually by aunties, uncles including my own parents. Now the big CNY gathering is replaced by individual selective home visits to the surviving aunties where I gather news about my cousins whom I now hardly meet.
As with people of our age, sickness is inevitable and health woes are common. Then there is the consistent worry as parents over the adult children with the usual range of problems from marriage breakups to financial difficulties. No one sails through life without setback and pain, even those who are often described as blessed with fortunes. As I reflect upon each life story over a span of 5 to 6 decades, the high and low points, the happy events and the sad, I am reminded of the temporal nature of each experience. Every situation be it one of sadness or one of joy passes on. The phrase "This too shall pass" best describes the impermanence of each event in our lives. Being aware of this helps us to mellow as we age.
As with people of our age, sickness is inevitable and health woes are common. Then there is the consistent worry as parents over the adult children with the usual range of problems from marriage breakups to financial difficulties. No one sails through life without setback and pain, even those who are often described as blessed with fortunes. As I reflect upon each life story over a span of 5 to 6 decades, the high and low points, the happy events and the sad, I am reminded of the temporal nature of each experience. Every situation be it one of sadness or one of joy passes on. The phrase "This too shall pass" best describes the impermanence of each event in our lives. Being aware of this helps us to mellow as we age.
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