A record Singapore economic stimulus package of $13.7 billion has been unveiled to provide a safety cordon for worst recession in recent years. According to their finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam primary objective of economic stimulus package in Singapore is to save jobs and prevent unemployment rate from going beyond the current rate of 2.2%. A sharp increase in unemployment might lead to political unrest against People’s Action Party, which would be celebrating its 50th anniversary of being in governmental power.
Singapore known for its thrifty nature has a rare budget deficit of $5.8 billion this year. Amounting to roughly 6 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), this deficit would be financed by Singapore government’s reserves of $300 billion. This particular financial aid has been likened to a economic stimulus package of Singapore. Economic growth is expected at a modest 5 percent for 2009 and could be heralded, to a significant extent by economic stimulus package for Singapore.
To prevent unemployment from increasing and encourage hiring, corporate tax has been reduced by one percent for 2009. Investments in infrastructure have been planned to create new job opportunities. Subsidies and tax rebates have been planned for income earners and households. A substantial economic stimulus package to Singapore would also be needed in order to supplement these measures.
Singapore being an open economy in Asia is susceptible to global economic changes. Exports, which are main revenue earner of Singapore, have received a substantial setback due to international fall in demand. Consumer spending has been curbed by introducing a forced savings option into state operated pension fund. According to Credit Suisse, greatest impact of this recession would fall on about 200,000 overseas workers who would have their work permits exhausted by 2010.
In 2009, needy families would be provided a support amounting to $1.7 billion in form of tax rebates and cash handouts. Following few years would be most trying for Singapore economy stimulus packages.
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Pity the poor Eastern Europeans.
After fifty years under the domination of their massive Soviet eastern neighbour, the collapse of Communism two decades ago offered undreamed of opportunities to join both the European Union and NATO.
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Professor at Columbia University. Recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001 & the John Bates Clark Medal in 1979. Author of "Freefall: America, Free Markets", "The Sinking of the World Economy", "Globalisation and its Discontents" & "Making Globalisation Work".
Nouriel Roubini, a.k.a. “Doctor Doom”, is chairman of Roubini Global Economics and professor of economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Roubini has been consistently cited as one of the world’s top global thinkers. This year, he was voted as the most influential economist in the world by Forbes magazine.
Non-Executive Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia. Lecturer at Yale University's School of Management and Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. Author of "The Next Asia".
Eric J. Gleacher Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. IMF’s Chief Economist from September 2003 to January 2007. Inaugural recipient of the Fischer Black Prize.
Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2007. Prime Minister of the UK between 2007 and 2010. Inaugural 'Distinguished Leader in Residence' at New York University. Advisor at World Economic Forum
Vice President and Director of the Global Economy and Development Program at the Brookings Institution. Former Turkish Minister of State for Economic Affairs. Head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) from 2005-2009.