Population Policies and Programmes in Singapore

Contents, List of Tables, List of Figures, Preface

Contents List of Tables ix List of Figures xiii Preface xv PART ONE: ANTINATALIST PERIOD 1 1 BACKGROUND 3 2 A PRIVATE PROGRAMME 7 Formation of the FPA 7 Objects 8 Organization 9 Clinics, Acceptors, and Attendances 13 Characteristics of New Acceptors 16 Targets and Achievements 20 The Re-establishment of the FPA 21 3 THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME 24 Formation of the SFPPB 24 Objectives 25 Organization 26 Clinical Services 31 Characteristics of New Acceptors 32 Targets and Achievements 35 00 PP&P Prelims 16/5/05, 3:04 PM 5 4 INDUCED ABORTION 42 Move towards Legal Abortion 43 The Abortion Debate 45 Legal Abortion 47 Abortion on Demand 50 Characteristics of Abortees 53 Incidence of Abortion 56 5 VOLUNTARY STERILIZATION 62 Move towards Legal Sterilization 63 Legal Sterilization 65 Further Liberalization of the Sterilization Laws 67 Sterilization on Demand 69 Characteristics of Sterilized Persons 70 Incidence of Sterilization 74 6 INCENTIVES AND DISINCENTIVES 79 Overview 79 Maternity Leave 81 Accouchement Fee 82 Personal Income Tax 84 Public Housing 85 Primary School Registration 86 Work Permit 89 7 KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICE 93 Family Planning 93 Abortion 100 Sterilization 104 Government Population Policies 107 8 RAPID FERTILITY DECLINE 113 Long-term General Trends 114 Effect of the Changing Age Composition 124 Changes by Age 126 Changes among Married Women 128 Changes by Parity 129 Changes by Race 133 Causes of Fertility Changes 135 Future Trends 138 vi POPULATION POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES IN SINGAPORE 00 PP&P Prelims 16/5/05, 3:04 PM 6 PART TWO: PRONATALIST PERIOD 143 9 UPLIFTING FERTILITY OF BETTER-EDUCATED WOMEN 145 Introduction 145 Graduate Marriage Matchmaking 146 Enhanced Child Relief 147 Primary School Registration 148 Sterilization Cash Incentives 153 Hospital Accouchement Fees 155 Conclusion 156 10 RELAXING OLD ANTINATALIST POLICIES 159 Need for Change 159 Abortion 162 Sterilization 163 Public Housing 164 Use of Medisave 164 Third Child Maternity Leave 165 Primary School Registration 167 Personal Income Tax 167 11 INTRODUCING LIMITED PRONATALIST POLICIES 171 Baby Bonus 171 Public Sector Leave 174 Public Sector Flexible Work 174 Childcare Subsidy 175 Public Housing 176 Special Tax Rebates 177 Conclusion 179 12 STRENGTHENING OLD PRONATALIST INCENTIVES 181 Need for Further Change 181 Use of Medisave 183 Extra Paid Maternity Leave 184 CPF Top-Up Grant for HDB Apartments 186 Extending Baby Bonus to First and Fourth Child 188 Increased Infant Care Subsidy 190 Parenthood Tax Relief 191 Working Mother’s Child Relief 192 Contents vii 00 PP&P Prelims 16/5/05, 3:04 PM 7 13 INTRODUCING NEW PRONATALIST INCENTIVES 195 Two-Day Childcare Leave 195 Lower Maid Levy 196 Grandparent Care-Giver Relief 197 Five-Day Working Week 198 Equal Medical Benefits 201 Work-Life Works! Fund 201 Overview of 2004 Measures 202 14 PROLONGED BELOW-REPLACEMENT FERTILITY 206 Introduction 206 Fertility Trends Below Replacement Level 207 Fertility Trends of Three Main Races 210 Birth Shortfall Below Replacement Level 214 Future Fertility Trends 217 15 FUTURE POPULATION TRENDS 219 Introduction 219 Methodology 219 Stationary Population 221 Future Population Growth 223 Future Age Structure 228 Implications of Future Trends 239 Appendix A Talent For The Future 243 Appendix B When Couples Have Fewer Than Two 251 Appendix C Who Is Having Too Few Babies? 255 Appendix D The Second Long March 263 Appendix E Babies 276 Bibliography 285 Index 295 viii POPULATION POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES IN SINGAPORE 00 PP&P Prelims 16/5/05, 3:04 PM 8 List of Tables TABLE 2.1 Annual Government Grants to the Family Planning Association 11 TABLE 2.2 Annual Number of Clinics, Acceptors and Visits, 1949–68 15 TABLE 2.3 Distribution of Old Acceptors Attending in 1963 by Year of First Registration 17 TABLE 2.4 Per Cent Distribution of New Acceptors by Monthly Family Income, 1954–59 18 TABLE 2.5 Per Cent Distribution of New Acceptors by Source of Referral, 1959–65 19 TABLE 2.6 Per Cent Distribution of New Acceptors by Method Chosen, 1959–65 20 TABLE 3.1 Singapore Family Planning and Population Board Annual Expenditure 29 TABLE 3.2 Per Cent Distribution of New Acceptors by Selected Characteristics, 1968–77 33 TABLE 3.3 Rate of Acceptance 35 TABLE 3.4 Targeted and Actual New Acceptors within the National Programme, 1966–77 36 TABLE 4.1 Per Cent Distribution of Legal Abortion by Age Group and Number of Living Children, 1970–77 55...