The dilemma of a more advanced developing country: Conflicting views on the development strategy of Singapore

This paper considers why Singapore appears to be reluctant to accept reclas sification as a fully developed country. The country's development record s ince the mid-1960s is examined from a number of perspectives including aggr egate measures of income per head, structural change, changes in welfare, a nd comparative rankings using noneconomic criteria. Although Singapore is n ot easy to classify in the development spectrum, there seems to be little r eason to delay reclassification unless noneconomic criteria are deemed para mount. This paper also asks whether there is any substance to the argument that Singapore has special problems of a more dynamic nature which might ju stify its present status as a developing country or "more advanced developi ng country." Whilst conventional arguments that it "lacks the depth and bre adth of fully developed economies," or is not competitive enough, do uncove r some special features of the Singapore economy, these are not persuasive enough to disqualify it from graduation.