Meanwhile, concern is growing that the rapid upward social mobility that many have enjoyed over the last three decades is unsustainable and that an eventual slowdown will widen the divide. Add to this the fact that during the crisis Singapore wooed foreign business and professional talent, creating an influx that has helped change the island's demographics. When unskilled workers and domestic helpers are taken into account, almost one in four people in the city is a foreigner. The income gap poses potential problems for the government. Lee and other leaders reinforce that agenda in speech after speech.
Globalization is in and a welfare state is out.
Despite those measures, the opposition is likely to exploit inequality issues in the next election, which must be held by January 2002. Although the PAP isn't in any danger over the growing income gap, it doesn't believe in taking chances. Political analysts say this is why it pre-empted opposition criticism by putting the statistics up for discussion in May, prompting much local media attention. If too many people say they're not benefiting from rapid growth, they get alienated. That's not good for society at large.