Singapore: reversing the demographic transition to meet labour needs.

Post-independence population policy in Singapore from 1965 encouraged couples to bear a maximum of two children. From 1987, however, population policy has been in place which is designed to reverse the demographic transition to low birth rates. Instead of encouraging replacement fertility, the government is now urging couples to bear three or more children if they can afford it. The new policy even attempts to enhance the quality of the workforce by offering incentives to encourage larger families among the more educated Singaporeans. This paper explains why and how such a policy change has occurred. While there are many diverse explanations, the driving force behind the new policy has been economic. Major efforts by the government of Singapore to restructure its economy have underpinned the new measures to encourage larger families due to perceived labor demands in the future. The impact of Singapore's latest population policy needs to be evaluated. Economic restructuring in Singapore, population policies in Singapore from 1965, the impact of the new policies, the impact of former policy, knowledge and perceptions about the most recent policy, evaluating the response of the new policy, and the broader perspective are discussed.