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chapter 7 - Coggle Diagram

- - - - sweden practices a government financed approach to provide social services to their citizens, regardless of socio-economic background
        
        education
        
        tuition fees for tertiary education is fully subsidised by the government for local students, children are required to attend school from 6 to 16 and there is free lunch for every child
        
        thanks to the various efforts made in the education sector to help everyone gain educational qualifications, lower socio-economic status groups have the opportunity for upwards mobility. Despite being born in a low-income family, they will not be handicapped by their status in attaining high educational qualifications. This can allow them to get a high-paying job to improve their standard of living
        
        housing
        
        allowance provided to low-income households who need help paying bills; elderly with no or low income are entitled to a housing supplement which acts as a form of financial aid and families may receive housing allowance if they live wiht children and pay more than 190 dollars for their housing
        
        lower socio-economic status groups would not have to worry about having shelter over their heads, as there is sufficient financial support to help them afford housing. This peace of mind can help them focus on work and family. They can concentrate on being more productive at work, which can help them with career development and better financial prospects and their focus on family would improve their quality of life
        
        healthcare
        
        all local families are protected by a medical protection scheme, citizens have free dental care until the age of 23, and children are able to claim up to 330 dollars from the government in a year
        
        this ensures that the lower socio-economic status groups would not need to neglect their health due to their lower income. This can reduce unhappiness among the citizens, as they would feel that the government cares about everyone. And their income would not need to be spent on medical fees but can be used for more productive means such as upgrading their skills
        
        skills training
        
        the Sweden Public Employment Service provides free vocational training courses for individuals of various backgrounds to train in inudstries that lack skilled workers.
        
        thanks to skills training, the lower socio-economic groups can upgrade their skills and become more competitive in the job market. In doing so, the lower socio-economic status groups can secure better paying jobs, transit to higher socio-economic status and improve their standard of living
      - challenges
        
        high taxation rates
        
        the social benefits provided by the Swedish government, such as healthcare and free education, are made possible due to the high taxation rates. In 2019, the highest income earners in Sweden paid a total of 57.2% tax, one of the highest in the world. There is also indirect taxation, Value Added Tax, which added up to 25% in 2019
        
        The government-financed approach requires substantial revenue from taxation. However, if taxation is high, it will be detrimental to the Swedish economy. The high income taxes could be a disincentive for people to work hard, excel and gain higher pay, since the higher pay would mean higher taxes. The economy would thus be unable to function smoothly as people choose to be less productive. The high VAT can also result in a worsening standard of living, as many goods and services become expensive. It could result in less tourists visiting Sweden, which means a less performing tourism industry, and lesser revenue to the government
        
        high immigrant unemployment rates
        
        Sweden has one of the larger immigrant populations in Europe. Immigrants may not have received educational qualifications in their home country. Hence, they may be unable to take up jobs. Processing time for foreign qualifications is long. So, even highly skilled immigrants may have difficulty getting jobs
        
        This is a challenge, as high immigration unemployment rates can result in resentment between the Swedish and immigrants. The former would be disgruntled that the immigrants are not working and paying taxation rates to fund the various social services, yet are still enjoying the services. There would be social instability. Also, the lack of employment among immigrants would affect the integration of immigrants into Sweden, as they would feel that they have no part to play in the economy. They would have difficulty feeling a sense of belonging to the country, which would weaken their desire to contribute to the nation, thus affecting taxation revenue gathered by the government
        
        ageing population
        
        Swedish life expectancy is one of the highest in the world; more than 5% of the Swedish population is aged 80 and above. An ageing population would lead to a smaller working population. This means that there would be a need to increase employment rates, taxes on the working population and lengthen employment years
        
        An ageing population means that the Swedish government must consider increasing taxes on working population or increasing employment years in order to gather taxation revenues. However, such options have disastrous costs. The increase in taxes and employment years would likely lead to social unhappiness and resentment among Swedish people towards the government if left unresolved. The unhappiness could lead to protests on the streets, which would weaken social stability, negatively affect the economy
    - - challenges
        
        increase in taxation
        
        Singapore has planned to increase GST from 7 to 9% from 2023-2024. This increase in taxes would help meet the needs of the ageing population, especially in healthcare spending. In Singapore, higher-income earners pay a proportionally higher tax, with highest personal tax being 22% as of 2021
        
        limitations in upskilling and training
        
        in the annual pre-budget 2020 Feedback Exercise conducted by REACH, many questioned is attending courses would be enough to secure employment or is mindset shift among employers in hiring older workers necessary. By 2030, with retirement age set at 65 and re-employment age at 70, mature workers require more support to continue working for longer
        
        ageing population
        
        by 2030, the percentage of seniors wull more than double, adults aged 20 to 64 will decrease. Between 2010 and 2019, the government tripled its healthcare expenditure to 11.3 billion dollars. With fewer working adults supporting more older people, the cost each working adult needs to shoulder is higher
      - Singapore adopts a shared responsibility approach where many helping hands, such as individuals, families, communities and the government, work together to address issues related to socio-economic diversity and meet the needs of society
        
        social and community services to provide tageted assistance to lower income families
        
        ComCare was set up by the Ministry of Social and Family Development to address the socio-economic needs of Singaporeans. Such as long-term support to people permanently unable to work due to old age or disability and short- to medium-term financial support for families and individuals to tide over difficult times
        
        assistance provided by ComCare would help the lower socio-economic status Singaporeans with their basic needs. The support means that they are better able to cope with the standards of living in Singapore. They can then concentrate on their work, which helps with better career development and provides higher pay.
        
        vouchers to provide more support for lower- and middle-income households
        
        Permanent GST vouchers are provided by the government. Some cash payout in August every year to support lower-income households with their immediate needs and U-save rebates to help lower- and middle-income Singaporeans with utilities bill
        
        the permanent GST vouchers help to lower the financial burden of lower SES Singaporeans. The cash component in August can help Singaporeans with the cost of living. Hence, the lower SES Singaporeans can divert more of their income to saving, which helps them prepare for the future
        
        subsidies for essential services
        
        healthcare -> multiple layers of protection. Government subsidies up to 80% in public hospitals. Medishield Life pays for large hospital bills, MediSave is a personal account that pays for medical expenses and MediFund is a safety net that helps thsoe unable to afford healthcare despite the above.
        
        preschool subsidies ensure that all children have access to quality education. From January 2020, lower-income families earning 3,000 dollars or less per month pays 3 dollars per month at preschool centres under the Anchor Operator Scheme funded by the government
        
        public housing subsidies like various housing grants and rental housing schemes
        
        essential services meet the needs of people, like healthcare and housing needs. By ensuring that essential services are provided regardless of socio-economic status, the lower socio-economic group would feel that they are included in Singapore and that they are cared for. They would be more willing to contribute to the best of their ability and commit to living in Singapore
        
        opportunities for upskilling and training
        
        SkillsFuture Singapore gives students and working adults access to training and courses to continually equip themselves with industry-relevant skills. Workfare Skills Support scheme provides training allowance and cash awards to encourage low wage workers to upgrade their skills
        
        Through these courses, the lower SES are able to upgrade their technical and vocational skills. This increase in skills would likely help the lower SES group become more attractive to employers, and they can secure higher-paying jobs easier. The lower SES people would thus feel that they have an agency over their life, and can transit over to higher SES
  - - - the welfare of the socio-economic status is safeguarded thanks to organisations like Keeping Hope Alive. They keep their house hygienic for them, improving their quality of life and reducing the odds of htem falling sick due to an unhygienic home environment
  - - - Individual actions can directly help to address the needs of the lower socio-economic status group. For instance, thanks to Mr Nizar Mohamed Shariff, the less fortunate are able to lower their spending on food and would have an easier time coping
- - - - eg., Welcome In My Backyard is a youth-led community group that raises awareness about the lives of migrant workers and promotes interactions between migrant workers and Singaporeans. WIMBY has partnered with many schools during their Values In Action (VIA) programme, where students write notes of appreciation to migrant workers
        
        community groups can do much in facilitating regular interaction and increasing social cohesion and harmony with different groups in society. For instance, through WIMBY's actions of getting students to write notes to migrant workers, they would have a better impression of the other party as compared to before when there was no contact. When guiding students to write their notes, WIMBY would be able to teach students about the vital role played by migrant workers. The migrant workers, upon receiving the notes from the students, would feel appreciated. As such, misunderstandings between Singaporeans and migrant workers will be greatly reduced
  - - - e.g., during the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix, an influencer posted a picture of two Sikh men standing in front of her, with the caption "Two obstructions came out of nowhere." There was a diversity of responses from netizens. Some responded critically and were reproachful towards the influencers remarks. On the other hand, the President of the Young Sikh Association responded differently by reaching out and inviting her to an informal tour of the Sikh temple to learn more about Sikhism.
        
        For individuals who choose to respond in a critical manner, their attitude is likely to cause more unhappiness among those involved. And they would not educate the people on why they should avoid making such insensitive remarks. In contrast, when people respond constructively, like the President of the Young Sikh Association, in reaching out to educate the influencer on Sikhism, this would allow people to understand the gravity and the impact of their actions and they would understand why it was wrong to carry out actions that discriminate against others or say things that are considered disrespectful
  - - - A country that practises integration is Singapore. In countries that practise integration, immigrants and minority groups retain their unique identities while forging common ground with the community group in the host country. Singapore's approach on diversity is based on the belief that diverse socio-cultural identities complement the Singapore national identity. Singapore's identity is anchored on shared values of respecting racial and religious harmony and upholding law and order. Differences in practices, customs and traditions of different groups are recognised and respected. Equality is promoted without granting special rights to any racial, religious or ethnic groups
        
        integrating Singaporeans, immigrants and foreigners
        
        community support
        
        This refers to the ground-up integration initiatives to facilitate integration of immigrants and foreigners into Singapore society. For example, in 2009, the National Integration Council started the Community Integration Fund to support organisations in implementing projects that encouraged interactions between Singaporeans, immigrants and foreigners so that they could build relationships with one another. For instance, the People's Association organises festive celebrations like Chinese New Year celebrations to help new Singapore citizens and permanent residents get to know their neighbourhood and make new friends
        
        Community support provides various activities like block parties where new citizens and locals get to interact with one another. The interactions help in social cohesion as new citizens and locals gain the opportunities to understand and learn more about each other's history, culture and social norms, which they might have a hard time learning if there is no community support. The increased understanding will reduce negative stereotypes and prejudice for both locals and new citizens. Also the activities would help the new citizens feel welcomed in Singapore.
        
        common experiences
        
        It refers to the opportunities for immigrants to interact with locals. It is made possible due to common spaces created by organisations like the People's Association. For instance, one common experience in Singapore is National Service, where all Singaporeans and permanent residents are required to serve in NS for 2 years. Common experiences can also be created by the SIngapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) for individuals who are not required to serve NS, like women, first-generation Permanent Residents and new citizens aged 18 to 45
        
        common experiences will allow the immigrants and Singaporeans to interact with one another and build ties with each other. For instance, the NS experience creates life-shaping experiences between the PR and locals, who undergo them together. Through the activities of NS, there would be more understanding between locals and PRs, who learn more about one another's culture. It also helps in developing a sense of collective interest in the nation over personal interest. This helps in increasing their sense of belonging.
        
        naturalisation initiatives
        
        when immigrants become new citizens in Singapore, they go through a compulsory programme called the Singapore Citizenship Journey, a collaborative effort made by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority of Singapore and the People's Association. During the Singapore Citizenship Journey, new citizens will learn more about Singapore's history and developments. They will also eb given opportunities to interact with the local community
        
        through the Singapore Citizenship Journey, new citizens will gain an understanding of what it means to be a Singapore citizen. The journey educates them on Singapore's values and history so that they can appreciate what are common practices of Singaporeans and engage in them to bond in solidarity with the locally born Singaporeans. The community sharing sessions provide new citizens with knowledge on how they should interact with other locals. This would help strengthen their sense of belonging to the nation.
        
        integrating Singaporeans of different backgrounds
        
        bilingual policy
        
        introduced in schools in 1966, students are required to learn English and one other officially recognised Mother Tongue Language such as Malay or Chinese (MTL)
        
        the Bilingual Policy allows Singaporeans to converse with each other with a common language. This enables communication between Singaporeans of different races and promotes understanding between them. As Singaporeans can communicate with one another, there would be less stereotypes being perpetuated
        
        ethnic integration policy
        
        group representation constituency
        
        some Singaporeans still feel that immigrants have not integrated sufficiently and are uncomfortable with the inflow of foreigners
        
        perceived erosion of the Singaporean identity
        
        difference in norms and values of immigrants
        
        for instance, in 2011, a Chinese immigrant family in Singapore had a dispute with their Indian neighbours due to the smell of curry from their cooking. These tensions, if unresolved, can lead to a diminished national identity among Singaporeans, as they would feel that their concerns are not being addressed by the government. They would not feel a sense of belonging to the country since they perceive that the immigrants have different values and clash with the local ones. As seen in the above example of an immigrant Chinese family complaining about the smell of curry from their Indian neighbours in 2011. This can make them feel like strangers in their own country. As such, they may not be willing to stay in Singapore, since they don't feel included in the country.
    - - Assimilationist policies means that immigrant are expected to adopt the beliefs and practices of the majority group in the host country and over time, the immigrants would be indistinguishable from the majority group in aspects such as cultural beliefs and practices
        
        in France, all citizens and immigrants must abide by the principle of laicite, which means secularism. It refers to a clear separation between governance and religious affairs, and no religion is favoured over another. As France believes that the ideal harmony of a society is achieved when individuals put aside their religion, race and ethnicity to prioritise their French national identity
        
        employment
        
        this means encouraging immigrants to get a job in France, which helps in creating a sense of commitment to the country. For instance, the government introduced the Diversity Charter in 2004, which raised employers' awareness of recruiting employees from diverse backgrounds and encouraged companies to be inclusive and carry out tangible actions to promote diversity at the workplace
        
        By getting employment in the country, immigrants would acquire social capital. Where they can develop a social network, increasing their sense of belonging. Also, when immigrants work in France, they would be able to practise their French regularly with colleagues. This would help in interaction and understanding between them and the locals. Thus, there would be fewer opportunities for misunderstandings.
        
        Tensiosn arising from assimilationist policies
        
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        naturalisation initiatives
        
        This means helping immigrants develop basic knowledge about life in France and what a French national means. For instance, to become a French national, it is necessary for immigrants to demonstrate knowledge of the history and culture of France, French language proficiency and pass a French cultural test. For immigrants seeking citizenship through naturalisation, they can attend a four-day civic training course in French principle and values. Up to 600 hours of free language courses are also offered to help immigrants master French in their everyday life
        
        the naturalisation process educates immigrants on the values and common practices of French nationalists. This allows immigrants to be aware of how to interact with the locals, which helps them develop social relations. This in turn enhances their sense of belonging to the country. The passing of the French proficiency test helps immigrants ensure that they have acquired the minimum standard in communication. This would enable them to communicate easily with the locals and build bonds with them, something that may not be possible if they were not fluent in French
        
        education
        
        all students regardless of citizenship status, are required to go to school until the age of 16. In the French classroom, there is no discussion about religion except for History, Literature, Art and Philosophy classes. Adaptation classes are conducted for children of immigrants to improve their French and eventually join French schools
        
        by refraining from discussing religion in most subjects, the religious identity would not be encouraged. Instead, the focus in school would be on cultivating the French national identity for everyone, which will help in social cohesion. Also, adaptation classes to brush up on the French language will help immigrant children communicate with the French locals and help them feel more welcomed. The sense of belonging in France would increase