Chapter 2 consequences of an ageing population

Chapter 2
Good Governance - Ageing population

Causes à a falling birth rate in Singapore à the Population control measures e.g. The Stop at 2 Policy.

An ageing population is indicated by an inverted population pyramid.

Consequences

Type II ( 2 factor comparison SEQ?) “Having a weaker defence force[F1] a more serious consequence[Hurts/harms Singapore] of an ageing population[Issues to be explained] than the inability to attract MNCs/a reduction in competitiveness[F2]. How far do you agree? Explain your answer. Structure Thesis statement P1 = Explain how a weaker defence force[F1] is a serious consequence of an ageing population [Point; Elaboration/explanation; Example; Link] P2 = Explain how the inability to attract MNCs/a reduction in competitiveness [F2] is a serious consequence of an ageing population [Point; Elaboration/explanation; Example; Link] P3: Weighing – compare the relative seriousness of F1 vs. F2 using a common criterion – which is more serious OR compare which is the more serious/harmful consequence.
Possible consequences	Why is this serious?
1.    Insufficient young people to support the elderly à There are fewer economically active Singaporeans à Less Singaporeans paying income tax and other indirect taxes ( e.g. GST ) à Government has less revenue available.	Less revenue means à less money available to care for the elderly at the national level à with more elderly, more healthcare service and expenditure needed at the national level à hence, the government has to divert money from other national needs e.g. Defence, education, transport à place the money into healthcare à other national needs less taken care of à could lead to serious problems e.g. an ageing transport system. At the family level à married couples will feel stressed because they have to care for their elderly parents and in-laws (medical needs) plus care for their children financially à hence, it is a financial struggle à fewer young adults caring for more elderly family members.
2.    Weaker Defence à Insufficient young men to serve national service or to join the armed forces à the military needs a high level of fitness in order to operation effectively.	This is a serious consequence because conducting military operations/warfare requires a high level of physical fitness à if there is a lack of younger men in Singapore, we will not have enough young citizen soldiers to defend Singapore à Singapore cannot depend on mercenaries à Hence if we cannot have a strong locally manned defence force à potential aggressors may think of attacking Singapore à We will be unable to deter them à we can lose our independence à Hence this is a serious consequence.
3.    Inability to attract and retain MNCs(Mutli-national Corporations) and TNCs(Transnational national corporation) à Reduction in competitiveness à Too many jobs and insufficient workers à Singapore becomes less competitive.	When MNCs cannot find the workers to fill jobs à the MNCs will relocate to another country à Singaporeans will lose their jobs à Massive unemployment à Families have no income à quality of life falls à Serious situation. Jobs are also lost when MNC leaves à Many Singapore companies ( SME = small and medium enterprise and GLC = Government Linked Companies) will lose business à Singaporeans will lose jobs à quality of life falls à Hence inability to retain and attract MNCs is serious.
4.    Increased demand for healthcare and social services à these services include medical as well as counselling and rehabilitative services.	With increase in demand for healthcare and social services à the government revenue will be strained and may be insufficient to build enough quality services to serve the needs of the ageing population à Hence, many elderly citizens may not have enough professional care available especially for the average elderly citizen à Hence this is a serious consequence.
Which is the more serious consequence? The more serious consequence is the consequence which will hurt Singapore the most and in this case it would be a weaker defence force. Hence, Singapore is hurt the most by a weaken defence force because once Singapore loses its independence, it loses everything else including its economic competitiveness and its ability to attract MNCs.