Statist Theory Singapore

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The statist theory came about in the 1980s to counter the neoliberal explanation of rapid economic growth. The statist theory states that the state has a central role to play in achieving rapid economic growth for the country, by leading decision making rather than following and adapting based on market conditions (Gilpin 2001, 316). This is done through the adoption of an authoritarian-developmental state (ADV), whereby the state is reponsible for engineering rapid economic development through its policies within an authoritarian framework.
Singapore has managed to successfully achieve rapid economic development over the past few decades, and this can be linked back to the high level of state intervention that has shaped and driven the economy. However, the statist theory does not account fully for Singapore’s successes. In this paper, I will highlight features of the ADV state that are displayed by Singapore and discuss how they led to her successful economic development, as established in the statist theory. I will also bring up alternative explanations for her successful economic development which the statist theory does not address.

Firstly, while we tend to make distinctions between the state and the government, this is not so much the case in Singapore. We define …show more content…

In Singapore, values like hard work and thrift are emphasized, which in turn creates behavior that exemplifies this. This attitude is further propagated by the government’s adoption of a meritocratic society, where citizens are propelled to work hard to achieve and improve themselves both in school and at work. This mindset is important in creating a workforce determined and ready to drive the economy to achieve successful growth, as the natural tendency is for the workforce to place achievement of growth as a benchmark to

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