When we talk about Asia, Singapore is always placed ahead of the other Asian localities. For instance, as reported in Youth Mobility Index, Singapore was placed #1 on its ranking regarding youth mobility and the criteria includes the country’s local tuition per quality, English proficiency, qualification reputation, export force, government funding on education, startup capital availability, GNI index and the internet factors, where Singapore consistently won first place. However, a recent news headline blew me away the other day – “Singapore had the highest rate of depression in Asia.” So what’s wrong with Singapore?

Photo of Marina Bay Sands from across harbour

Strolling along the city-state of Singapore, you could probably soak up the atmosphere of prosperity. Everywhere I look I see neon signs of luxury brands, futuristic architecture, well-maintained city facilities, pedestrians lined with greens yet free of debris, and decent apartments occupied by racially diverse and highly educated citizens. While all Asian countries strive to boost their own GDP per capita, Singapore already reached the position of the top three countries with the highest GDP per capita. So where does the depression come from?

YMI 2018 LifeX Index - Singapore
(Chart: YMI 2018 LifeX experience index of Singapore )

We might have to take a closer look at the life experience in Singapore. The Asia-focused Youth Mobility Index found that the lion city is ranked the last on its wildlife reserve and ranked almost the last on its traffic and commute time, while the cost of living is listed almost the top, projecting a picture of over-urbanisation, which has already been proved to be related to high prevalence of mental disorders.

YMI 2018 - Tolerance Freedom Index
( Chart: YMI 2018 sub-index tolerance & freedom )

Moreover, though Singapore looks good on the overall tolerance and freedom level, it actually showed certain unsatisfactory performance in individual indicators, such as government tolerance (#16) and gender tolerance (#10). The strict and conservative society restricts the citizens’ behaviours, such as banning same-sex relationships and limiting the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. The old Singaporeans are comparably patriotic and more likely to go with the flow, while the younger Singaporeans tend to be less obedient. For example, the teen blogger Amos Yee was jailed for his view on race and religion, though luckily received asylum from the US at the end; and the annual LGBT event called Pink Dot is put under tight restrictions such as limiting the participation of foreigners and sponsorship from foreign companies.

Marking its 53rd anniversary this week, how Singapore will proceed from here? Does it choose to remain its strict policy or change its way of governance in order to cope with the age of millennials?

To discover what moves young Asians, learn more about the Youth Mobility Index (YMi.asia) at www.ymi.asia

YMI 2018 Reports
PDF HTML YMI 2018 REPORT
PDF ALL LOCALES
PDF HTML BANGLADESH
PDF HTML BHUTAN
PDF HTML CHINA
PDF HTML HONG KONG
PDF HTML INDONESIA
PDF HTML INDIA
PDF HTML JAPAN
PDF HTML CAMBODIA
PDF HTML KOREA
PDF HTML LAOS
PDF HTML SRI LANKA
PDF HTML MYANMAR
PDF HTML MALAYSIA
PDF HTML NEPAL
PDF HTML PHILIPPINES
PDF HTML PAKISTAN
PDF HTML SINGAPORE
PDF HTML THAILAND
PDF HTML TAIWAN
PDF HTML VIETNAM
Five reasons why the millennials make great entrepreneurs

Five reasons why the millennials make great entrepreneurs

Nowadays the millennial generation is taking over the Generation X and Baby Boomers to become the majority of the workforce. This revolutionary generation is also reshaping the business world by creating an unprecedented startup boom. You see that Forbes launches the annual list of entrepreneurs and innovators called 30 under 30 to celebrate the success of the powerful individuals since 2011. This entrepreneurial generation will continue to evolve and create our connected future.

read more
Four Asian cities to work hard and play hard

Four Asian cities to work hard and play hard

In case you are planning to start a career in another Asian city, choosing a destination would never be easy because each of them would bring a thriving living experience. To get the best out of the living during your overseas working, you’d better know what you most enjoy so that you could narrow down the choice.

read more