Singapore: social development, housing and the Central Provident Fund

The high rates of economic growth and significant improvements in standards of living recorded in East-Asian nations such as Singapore in recent decad es has attracted increasing attention from social policy scholars in the in dustrial countries. Many believe that the experiences of these countries of fer useful lessons for the Western welfare states. This article examines so cial security and housing policies in Singapore and shows how both were an integral part of a wider commitment to promote economic development. The ar ticle suggests that Singapore provides a good example of a developmentalist approach to social welfare that successfully harmonises economic and socia l objectives.