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Singapore, Lion without Teeth

Posted: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 9:01 pm
by AngMoG
Came across a very interesting article about Singapore today... apparently somebody who actually lived here for a while wrote a book about how its economy is all ... well, wrong.

Bangkok's Independent Newspaper: Lion without teeth
The smallest member of Asean geographically is often touted as one of Asia's great success stories - a gleaming city that emerged from the tropical swamps under a strict but wise autocrat, Lee Kuan Yew.

But a fascinating new book by Australian Rodney King looks deeper into the "the Singapore Miracle" and reveals that a lot of the city's supposed successes are in fact hot air.

Reports of Singapore being a dynamic commercial melting pot are, King says, simply the oft-repeated claims of a government that tolerates little dissent, and city leaders who may actually have stifled the sort of entrepreneurial dynamism you get in places such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taiwan and maybe even Bangkok.

King is a Perth journalist who lived in Singapore for a number of years and worked briefly at the Straits Times.

Posted: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 10:04 pm
by Beeroclock
Sounds an interesting read... I will like to try get my hands on a copy. A lot of the developed, world leading economies can appear quite scary statistically, china, Japan, US. It's not so easy to point to a really strong economy nowadays.

Posted: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 11:12 pm
by gailwynand
It's not a new book, its second edition is from 2008.

Anyway it's on the Kindle store for around $10USD.

Posted: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 11:40 pm
by zzm9980
gailwynand wrote:It's not a new book, its second edition is from 2008.

Anyway it's on the Kindle store for around $10USD.
Link? I can't find it :( Just the first edition which is US$70+
http://www.amazon.com/Singapore-Miracle ... 977556700/

Posted: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 1:02 am
by Strong Eagle

Posted: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 8:20 am
by x9200
And nobody sued the author so far?

Posted: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 8:39 am
by the lynx
x9200 wrote:And nobody sued the author so far?
Yup, I'm more interested in this part.

Posted: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 9:31 am
by Beeroclock
the lynx wrote:
x9200 wrote:And nobody sued the author so far?
Yup, I'm more interested in this part.
maybe he choose his words carefully and put enough statistics in there at the same time..... Still might be wise to plan his flight itinerary carefully to avoid any SG transits :wink:

Posted: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 9:59 am
by morenangpinay
great ! Thanks for posting. I'll read it. Just confirmed my opinion that its just good public relations.