This book is an annual effort by the economists from the Nanyang Technological University to provide analysis, interpretations and insights on contemporary economic issues affecting Singapore. In 2010, Singapore's economy is just recovering from the sharp economic downturn in 2008/09 caused by the Global Financial Crisis. The global economic outlook in the short and medium term remains uncertain and the risk of another economic or financial crisis remains high. Thus, one of the key themes of this book is to study economic crises and financial crises, and the policy measures that are available to manage them. Looking ahead, in order to ensure long term growth and prosperity for Singapore's economy, microeconomic policy adjustments and fine-tuning is still needed to build a competitive and resilient nation. Therefore, the second key theme of the book is to review several public policies in Singapore, such as competition, healthcare, training, free trade agreements, state capitalism and inequality.

This book is an annual effort by the economists at the Nanyang Technological University to provide analysis, interpretations and insights of contemporary economic issues affecting Singapore and Asia. It covers two key themes: (1) Global Financial Tsunami and (2) other economic issues affecting Singapore and Asia.The Global Financial Tsunami is currently ravaging the world financial systems and the world economy. The authors brilliantly tackle pertinent issues such as fiscal and monetary management of the current crisis, impacts of the crisis on the Singapore and Asian economies, policy measures implemented by Singapore and other countries to combat the crisis, and regional efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of the crisis.A wide range of important economic issues affecting Singapore and Asia, including inflation, exchange rate, workfare, environmental economics, population and worth of human life in Singapore are addressed competently. The chapters build on economic and analytical frameworks to help readers better understand the economic and policy issues discussed.

This book is the first of its kind to systematically analyze and apply Lim Chong Yah's S-Curve Hypothesis to the various facets of economic growth and economic transition. By augmenting the mathematical and economical sophistication of the hypothesis, this book extends the S-Curve hypothesis to provide further insight into economic growth and transition.

It also utilizes a construction of a stochastic growth model to provide the microeconomic foundation for the S-Curve hypothesis. This model resolves the puzzle of why some developing countries experience economic take-off, while others do not. The book analyzes and extends discussion on the S-Curve, and also applies the S-Curve hypothesis to predict long-term growth in Japan and Singapore. It serves as an excellent resource for people interested in Lim's growth theory.