Productivism, developmentalism and the shaping of urban order : integrating public housing and social security in Singapore

摘要

Singapore's socio-economic success has often been treated as an exception in East Asia, and therefore is of little value for generalisation. However, recent interest in the meanings of productivism and developmentalism in East Asia has reconnected and highlighted the theoretical potential of the Singaporean model. What makes more balanced socio-economic development possible in Singapore, other than the well-known growth factor? This paper argues that this partly lies in the practice of developmentalism through successful institutional integration of selected social policy sectors, manifested in the role of public housing and its amalgamation with social security and economic development. Additionally, since the Singapore government decides to lead in the housing and real estate sector, its policy shapes the urban form, minimising uneven urban development and its effect experienced by many other East Asian economies.