Description
Book SynopsisThis book is a collection of twenty-one essays by Professor David Chan, which first appeared in The Straits Times from October 2011 to January 2015. The essays discussed a wide range of topics including happiness and well-being, fairness perceptions, the immigration debate and population policies, social cohesion and integration, social mobility, trust in society, public expectations, rationality and emotions, approaches to policy making, modes of thinking, democracy, shared values and principles, and the social compact between people and Government in Singapore. A common theme that runs through these essays is what David calls “People Matter”. “People Matter” refers to both the critical issues that matter to the people and the idea that the way people think, feel and act should matter to policy making and nation building in Singapore.
Table of ContentsDrill Into What Makes Singaporeans Happy; Fairness: Processes are as Important as Outcomes; The Heart of the Immigration Debate; The 5C Challenges of Cohesion; Five Cs to Manage Integration; The Goals Matter, So Does the Journey; Singaporeans' Well-Being: It's Not Just About Emotions; Population Priorities and Perceptions; Break the Negative Spiral over the Haze; Taking Steps to Raise Social Mobility in Singapore; Sustainability is Key; Trust is a Many Splendoured Thing; The Art of Disagreeing - It Can Yield Some Good; From Emotions to Shared Values; Moving Forward With Great Expectations; Strike the Right Balance to Make Singapore a "City In A Country"; Democracy of Deeds and Voices; A Paradoxical Approach to Policymaking; Why Bronze Medallists Are Happier Than Silver Winners; Values, Outrage and the Good Society in 2014; It Takes Two to Tango, And Progress;
