Ageism and Good News for Foreigners

Since arriving here and having the official Expat label, I have taken a keen interest in the local politics and related strategies and future direction. Who knows, I might end up staying here for much longer than planned and I do like Singapore.

Two weeks ago I watched a local TV program called the "Singapore Live Debates" with the topic of discussion titled, "Ageism, a necessary Evil for progress in Asia". The final outcome was against the motion but the debate did raise some very interesting questions. Ageism, basically a "Nice" word for discrimination against individuals or a group because of their age and in this case specifically directed towards the elderly.

Where should Asian countries focus their resources? Towards the young to ensure proper education which will lead to a productive society and in turn ensure continued financial growth or towards the elderly? Tricky question, as we all get old and the decisions you make today might catch up with you in future. Singapore , however has another bigger problem. A declining birth rate and increase in ratio of people over sixty five years old to the number of 1 - 64 years old. Life expectancy has also gradually increased which means more older people who will need support with less younger people to actually provide the support.

Earlier this year during the annual budget speech the Government announced that they would reduce the immigration cap and maintain a 25% ratio. Friday, however in a newly released report by the Institute of Policy Studies it was made clear that immigration was inevitable for Singapore if it was to slow down the growth in older generation and the labour growth rate fall.

The report puts Singapore’s population at 6.8 million in 2030 — up from the current 5.2 million — if the proportion of foreigners in the population is raised to 33 per cent. At the current fertility rate, with 30,000 new citizens or permanent residents a year plus non—residents in the mix, the support ratio for every elderly person aged 65 and above to a working adult is 1 to 10. In about 20 years, this will be halved to 1 to 5, even if the proportion of foreigners in the country goes up to 33 per cent.

African and Asian cultures have relied on the young to look after the old for centuries but as the ratio becomes less Governments will have to allocate resources and provide for the elderly more and more. The fact that people live longer and longer as a result of improved medical technology's will have an even greater effect on this global problem.