ABSTRACT
This paper analyses selected aspects of the role of the state in Singapore. Over the last three decades, Singapore has been able to combine good macro-economic performance and good social and demographic indicators with authoritarian policy and corporatist management. Singapore has used market as an instrument rather than as a mechanism.
The paper discusses the issue of economic boundaries of the state in Section II; budgetary policy in Section III; a role of public enterprises which has been extensive in Singapore in Section IV; and the Central Provident Fund (CPF), which has become an important socio-economic institution, in Section V.
The paper cautions that unless certain pre-conditions are met, pursual of policies and style of management similar to that of Singapore by others could lead to very different results. Therefore, great care must be taken in drawing lessons concerning the role of the state from Singapore's experience. The paper suggests that rapid aging of the population combined with affluence would pose a formidable challenge to the policy-makers, and meeting it may require significant modifications to the present role of the state in Singapore.
