IN THIS global recession, the Government announced the Budget statement a month earlier than usual.

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Create what kind of demand?

Save jobs but will all the measure help restore spending confidence?

Time to wish all a happy CNY.

Those who drink tonight, please don't drive. Be alive. See sunrise.

Ms Lim, are you a housewife or you didnt lose your job? The govt goes all out to help citizens not because they ask for handouts but because they need help once in a while, esp during times like these.

You speak of creating demand using the example of the TV salesman...have you been a sales man before? No? Perhaps you could enlighten me on how you create demand....dont just apply the concept without understanding it.....

It's interesting, this dilemma of economics, as highlighted by Ms Lim - do you generate demand, or do you save jobs? Of course, life being the way it is, you can only do ONE thing and not both at the same time.

Now, without jobs, or a (somewhat) stable income, people won't have the money, let alone the mood to spend. Similarly, as pointed out by Ms Lim, there isn't a need for salespeople when there're no, or little people to sell to.

From a layman's point of view (ie. me), I think saving jobs would be more important since it's much harder getting/staying employed, than artifically convicing myself to buy a bigger LCD, or a faster computer, or go for a massage, or eat eat eat shop shop shop... but I digress.

The point is, without being too critical, it's all the same coin and I'm sure Ms Lim is simply voicing out her concerns. In a similar vein, I'm wondering whether such letters are characteristic of ST Forum?

Why having nothing to say creating more demand then saving job, where 200,000 workers is going jobless here in Singapore, where is the demand is coming....?. even COE big cat has drop to just $200/- only, No demand..
it has to be two way or more in our much expose opening trading system that is very much depended on regional and world trade... to create such environment for this prolong recession to work, not just say say only.

There is a saying that applies here: 'Give a man a fish, and you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime.'

I said give the man a fishing stick n hook, he will look for his worm to fish and he can go home with his fish

I hope the Government will seriously consider saving jobs rather then merely to creating demand

Why save jobs and not create demand?

Practical Economics 101

In an open economy like SG, whatever demand that is created will only last a short time as we have a high import component in our GDP.

By saving jobs, the demand is sustained longer albeit at a lower level.

The bottom line is the Govt has done their job correctly.

Err...Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime.'
I said, give a man his tool and he can used it properly for his survival to feed himself and the tool can last more than a lifetime..Ya

Ya, we cannot control demand, and also how money is spent (on local goods & services??) or saved (in local banks?). But jobs we can control and pay for the difference the company is losing or else will start firing staff.

But we should try to make sure that Singaporean Citizens get top priority for these jobs at these times. Is not about fair because thats what happening in other countries.

Our govt must also worry about illegal workers that are out of jobs, they will also resort to crimes...

Easier said than done. Creating demand is one thing, but who are you going to sell it to? And who has the money here or overseas to buy?
On the other hand, lets be adventurous for a moment..and think this way:
If the government gave every adult Singaporean(only Singaporean)..S$10,000 to go out and spend...spend spend... ..then maybe after the government has coughe..say..S$15billion..then..there will be so much demand, it can carry us through this rough patch.
Imagine plasma's flying out of shops, new kitchens and renovations galore, shopping like no tomorrow etc.
Now you then have demand!!