"Oxfam inequality index: Singapore achieves real outcomes rather than satisfies indicators, says Desmond Lee
SINGAPORE: Rather than satisfy a “collection of ideologically driven indicators”, Singapore instead set out to achieve "real outcomes" in health, education, jobs and housing, Desmond Lee, Minister for Social and Family Development, said on Tuesday (Oct 9).
An Oxfam inequality index, released by the global developmental charity earlier on Tuesday, placed Singapore 149 out of 157 countries based on efforts to tackle the inequality gap.
Oxfam attributed Singapore’s low score in the Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index 2018 to the country’s “harmful tax practices”, such as tax incentives for certain industries and the relatively low personal income tax for high earners.
Mr Lee took issue with Oxfam’s assumption that high taxation and high public expenditure equates commitment to combatting inequality, instead stating it is more important to look at the outcomes achieved.
"In Oxfam’s view, Singapore’s biggest failing is our tax rates, which are not punitive enough. The top income tax rate is only 22 per cent the report says.
"Yes, the income tax burden on Singaporeans is low. And almost half the population do not pay any income tax. Yet they benefit more than proportionately from the high quality of infrastructure and social support that the state provides," Mr Lee said in a statement."
Some indexes r best ignored if the assumptions they were developed could not stand up to strict n fair scrutiny!
Equating high tax n high spending to closing inequalities is just too crude n simple minded.
Minister Desmond Lee has a few good points especially the one on focusing on the Results or Outcomes achieved.
At the same time, some of his points may hv misses the point too!
Ranking health system high on the world's list doesn't mean this is affordable to all or most?
Ranking kids' results at so-called international test doesn't mean the general kids r as outstanding!, etc.
Let the debates begin...
SINGAPORE: Rather than satisfy a “collection of ideologically driven indicators”, Singapore instead set out to achieve "real outcomes" in health, education, jobs and housing, Desmond Lee, Minister for Social and Family Development, said on Tuesday (Oct 9).
An Oxfam inequality index, released by the global developmental charity earlier on Tuesday, placed Singapore 149 out of 157 countries based on efforts to tackle the inequality gap.
Oxfam attributed Singapore’s low score in the Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index 2018 to the country’s “harmful tax practices”, such as tax incentives for certain industries and the relatively low personal income tax for high earners.
Mr Lee took issue with Oxfam’s assumption that high taxation and high public expenditure equates commitment to combatting inequality, instead stating it is more important to look at the outcomes achieved.
"In Oxfam’s view, Singapore’s biggest failing is our tax rates, which are not punitive enough. The top income tax rate is only 22 per cent the report says.
"Yes, the income tax burden on Singaporeans is low. And almost half the population do not pay any income tax. Yet they benefit more than proportionately from the high quality of infrastructure and social support that the state provides," Mr Lee said in a statement."
Some indexes r best ignored if the assumptions they were developed could not stand up to strict n fair scrutiny!
Equating high tax n high spending to closing inequalities is just too crude n simple minded.
Minister Desmond Lee has a few good points especially the one on focusing on the Results or Outcomes achieved.
At the same time, some of his points may hv misses the point too!
Ranking health system high on the world's list doesn't mean this is affordable to all or most?
Ranking kids' results at so-called international test doesn't mean the general kids r as outstanding!, etc.
Let the debates begin...
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