Today's lecture was about Welfare Economics and how microeconomic policy making involves some form of intervention in the daily lives of people by changing the relative prices of things.
And we came to this section about the assumptions we make about society as whole. The following are the stock standard assumptions behind any analysis of social welfare. They are not meant to be realistic but under these conditions we can have an idea of the 'perfect' or model and see how far we deviate from that.
1. Individualism
(We assume that a person's improvement of happiness is vital to his well-being. We prefer them to be happier or remain as happy. The person and a positive state of mind is important.)
2. Non-paternalism
(We assume that nobody knows the person better than himself. Therefore, by implication we cannot pass judgment or force or constrain a person or prevent a person from doing something.))
3. Benevolence
(We assume that we disregard what the individual's relative endowments and level of utility. And that what's important is that there is an increase in that individual's utility.)
4. Process independence.
(We assume that we disregard the mechanism with which we allocate welfare.)
The basis for all our judgments and the desired implementation of a policy should not be based on efficiency alone. In fact, a lot of values, principles, codes of conduct and ethics comes into play.
As a nation, we prefer the rich not to get richer because that wouldn't be fair.
We would like to be allowed to do whatever we want, but we need to take into consideration and respect other people's feelings and opinions and views.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
On Malay heroes
I had a number of Malay heroes growing up.
One was Leftenan Adnan Saidi of the 1st Battalion Royal Malayan Rifles who was tasked to defend Pasir Panjang Ridge against Japanese Imperial guard infantry. He exemplified courage, determination and undying loyalty. He fought til the very end.
Unfortunately, by acknowledging him openly, you open yourself up to the rather thorny issue of whether or not he was Singaporean Malay or Malaysian Malay. Did he fight for Singapura or Malaya?
So we can't really celebrate the man who died fighting for his unit because its politically 'correct' to accord hero of Singapore status to the man who fought for his unit which unfortunately came from a neighbouring country.
Lim Bo Seng, another war hero is different. Though he was born in China, he was educated in a very prestigious school, Raffles Institution. He had roots in Singapore because he married a Singaporean Nyonya woman of a local Singaporean clan.
My other hero by accord of the fact that he was Singapore's first Malay president was Yusof Ishak. He was a journalist and founder of the Utusan Melayu.
I was so inspired by the idea that the first president of Singapore was Malay, I told my cikgu that I would one day be a president and that I'd be a journalist as well. *cough* I was 9, and I hadn't really thought about it. The President may be head of state, but the real brains is the Prime Minister. *hahaha*
The President of Singapore makes the ultimate decision as to whether or not the Singapore Armed Forces has the authority to wage armed conflict to protect the sovereignty. And where applicable, to authorise the use of deadly force in defence of national interest. (That's some heavy shit, if you ask me.)
One was Leftenan Adnan Saidi of the 1st Battalion Royal Malayan Rifles who was tasked to defend Pasir Panjang Ridge against Japanese Imperial guard infantry. He exemplified courage, determination and undying loyalty. He fought til the very end.
Unfortunately, by acknowledging him openly, you open yourself up to the rather thorny issue of whether or not he was Singaporean Malay or Malaysian Malay. Did he fight for Singapura or Malaya?
So we can't really celebrate the man who died fighting for his unit because its politically 'correct' to accord hero of Singapore status to the man who fought for his unit which unfortunately came from a neighbouring country.
Lim Bo Seng, another war hero is different. Though he was born in China, he was educated in a very prestigious school, Raffles Institution. He had roots in Singapore because he married a Singaporean Nyonya woman of a local Singaporean clan.
My other hero by accord of the fact that he was Singapore's first Malay president was Yusof Ishak. He was a journalist and founder of the Utusan Melayu.
I was so inspired by the idea that the first president of Singapore was Malay, I told my cikgu that I would one day be a president and that I'd be a journalist as well. *cough* I was 9, and I hadn't really thought about it. The President may be head of state, but the real brains is the Prime Minister. *hahaha*
The President of Singapore makes the ultimate decision as to whether or not the Singapore Armed Forces has the authority to wage armed conflict to protect the sovereignty. And where applicable, to authorise the use of deadly force in defence of national interest. (That's some heavy shit, if you ask me.)
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Why I USED to hate being Malay
Growing up, I hated the idea of being Malay.
It bears with it the connotation of being lazy, ignorant, petulant, gullible, repressed, stagnant and poor. Growing up, most of the Malay people I knew weren't rich or well-off or successful.
Most Malay dads were blue collar workers. Most Malay mom's stayed at home. Sometimes they'd be factory workers. And with the combined incomes they appeared more well off.
When I went to secondary school, I was painfully conscious of my skin colour and social demographic background. Most dads in the school I went to were middle income earners. Most of the kids stayed in the expensive districts of Singapore. They had connections. Their girlfriends were fair skinned Chinese girls from SCGS or MGS. They went to church. Their churches had bands. And they worshipped by appealing to God in English.
I distinctly remember staying away from kids who were obviously a lot more well-off. I figured there was nothing i could offer them.
All the 'heroes' in school were smart Chinese boys who excelled in sports and school. They swam, or they played rugby. Sometimes they did track. And to earn school colours was a big deal.
I took Malay language class and felt it was an exercise in futility. I pitied the tortured and beleaguered Malay cikgu. I was more interested in completing the task assigned and just getting the highest score possible without feeling for the subject. I didn't feel or see the need for the poetry of the language.
Why be Malay when there is nothing to feel proud about?
Why be Malay when the racial stereotype is one of the guitar playing yobbo with no future?
Why be Malay at all when the media surrounds us with non-Malay ideals of beauty and success?
It bears with it the connotation of being lazy, ignorant, petulant, gullible, repressed, stagnant and poor. Growing up, most of the Malay people I knew weren't rich or well-off or successful.
Most Malay dads were blue collar workers. Most Malay mom's stayed at home. Sometimes they'd be factory workers. And with the combined incomes they appeared more well off.
When I went to secondary school, I was painfully conscious of my skin colour and social demographic background. Most dads in the school I went to were middle income earners. Most of the kids stayed in the expensive districts of Singapore. They had connections. Their girlfriends were fair skinned Chinese girls from SCGS or MGS. They went to church. Their churches had bands. And they worshipped by appealing to God in English.
I distinctly remember staying away from kids who were obviously a lot more well-off. I figured there was nothing i could offer them.
All the 'heroes' in school were smart Chinese boys who excelled in sports and school. They swam, or they played rugby. Sometimes they did track. And to earn school colours was a big deal.
I took Malay language class and felt it was an exercise in futility. I pitied the tortured and beleaguered Malay cikgu. I was more interested in completing the task assigned and just getting the highest score possible without feeling for the subject. I didn't feel or see the need for the poetry of the language.
Why be Malay when there is nothing to feel proud about?
Why be Malay when the racial stereotype is one of the guitar playing yobbo with no future?
Why be Malay at all when the media surrounds us with non-Malay ideals of beauty and success?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The Singaporean Personal Path of Self-Discovery is Elliptical
Step 1:
Start by not liking yourself. Extra points if you don't belong to the majority. Or if you're already minority, start by hating your own kind.
Step 2:
Pick on the details. Extra points if you don't fit in to an ideal.
Step 3:
Wish that you were someone else. Extra points if you engage in or indulge in highly opinionated, non-physical world activities such as gaming, singapore indie culture, celebrity blogging etc.
Step 4:
Go away to another country where you're literally the minority. Extra points if you go there for training or course of study.
Step 5:
Come back with an accent. (depending on the flavour of the decade, Brit preferably. If not, Aussie's unassuming and alright. Never american.)
Step 6:
Begin to attract too much attention. (...with your obnoxious accent and lack of tact for other people's need for non-accentified english.)
Step 7:
Wish that your home country wasn't as stressful/ polluted/ cheena etc. (extra, extra points if you start pining for a non-local as a partner, cos everyone's an idiot.)
Step 8:
Start to conform. (Give up yet?)
Step 9:
Start using more singlish. And mean it when you do!
Step 10:
Welcome to Reality, Singaporean! You are now NRIC NUMBER, RANK AND NAME. Get back in line, LACKEY!
Start by not liking yourself. Extra points if you don't belong to the majority. Or if you're already minority, start by hating your own kind.
Step 2:
Pick on the details. Extra points if you don't fit in to an ideal.
Step 3:
Wish that you were someone else. Extra points if you engage in or indulge in highly opinionated, non-physical world activities such as gaming, singapore indie culture, celebrity blogging etc.
Step 4:
Go away to another country where you're literally the minority. Extra points if you go there for training or course of study.
Step 5:
Come back with an accent. (depending on the flavour of the decade, Brit preferably. If not, Aussie's unassuming and alright. Never american.)
Step 6:
Begin to attract too much attention. (...with your obnoxious accent and lack of tact for other people's need for non-accentified english.)
Step 7:
Wish that your home country wasn't as stressful/ polluted/ cheena etc. (extra, extra points if you start pining for a non-local as a partner, cos everyone's an idiot.)
Step 8:
Start to conform. (Give up yet?)
Step 9:
Start using more singlish. And mean it when you do!
Step 10:
Welcome to Reality, Singaporean! You are now NRIC NUMBER, RANK AND NAME. Get back in line, LACKEY!
What's in a name?
I have a very odd name. Mohammed Andyhardy bin Rahmat.
I think its super pretentious. It makes me out as some kind of Eurasian. But I am not. I am 100% Singaporean Malay of Javanese descent. Both of my parents are non-Eurasians. They bear no traces of Caucasian blood in them.
Most of my friends had more normal Malay names - Adam, or Shamsul, or Ariffin. etc.
When I asked my mom why I had such a strange hybrid name, she told me that she wanted a name that would stand out, that would shield me from stereotype. On paper, at least, I appear non-Malay. I am Muslim on account of the prefix Mohammed and that I am identified as to be the son of Rahmat. On paper, I was racially indistinct.
And so, I passed myself off as some kind of mixed race/ rojak. I lied to people and said I was Chinese and Malay. *scoff* (three reasons for that: firstly, i had race issues, i didn't want to be malay. secondly, i was tired of explaining to people why my name was so strange. Also I thought that I had to fit in. I should be more Chinese cos everybody else was Chinese!!!)
In Freakonomics, Levitt and Dubner (2005) wrote about how parents in America named their kids. They conclude that parents are attempting to suggest something about their expectations of their kids potential.
Sometimes, I lie awake and think about whether or not I have lived up to my name.
References
Levitt, S.D. and Dubner, S.J. (2005) "Perfect Parenting, Part II; or: Would a Roshanda by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet?" Freakonomics, Penguin Paperbacks.
I think its super pretentious. It makes me out as some kind of Eurasian. But I am not. I am 100% Singaporean Malay of Javanese descent. Both of my parents are non-Eurasians. They bear no traces of Caucasian blood in them.
Most of my friends had more normal Malay names - Adam, or Shamsul, or Ariffin. etc.
When I asked my mom why I had such a strange hybrid name, she told me that she wanted a name that would stand out, that would shield me from stereotype. On paper, at least, I appear non-Malay. I am Muslim on account of the prefix Mohammed and that I am identified as to be the son of Rahmat. On paper, I was racially indistinct.
And so, I passed myself off as some kind of mixed race/ rojak. I lied to people and said I was Chinese and Malay. *scoff* (three reasons for that: firstly, i had race issues, i didn't want to be malay. secondly, i was tired of explaining to people why my name was so strange. Also I thought that I had to fit in. I should be more Chinese cos everybody else was Chinese!!!)
In Freakonomics, Levitt and Dubner (2005) wrote about how parents in America named their kids. They conclude that parents are attempting to suggest something about their expectations of their kids potential.
Sometimes, I lie awake and think about whether or not I have lived up to my name.
References
Levitt, S.D. and Dubner, S.J. (2005) "Perfect Parenting, Part II; or: Would a Roshanda by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet?" Freakonomics, Penguin Paperbacks.
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