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The Pillars of Inequality - Framing the types of inequalities, and why it persists

Sep 3, 2021 · 8 min read

TLDR; This post seeks to present how I have made sense of the long term struggles against inequality, and why it is so difficult to crack. There are four pillars of inequality - International, Domestic, Absolute and Perceived An absolutely critical theme that runs acrosses many of my posts - economic, education, political and sustainability - sees inequality as a focal point that must be addressed to unlock progress.

On Governance and Government - a lived experience

Sep 2, 2021 · 13 min read

TLDR: I reflect on my time working for the government. I reflect on four principles that modern governments can consider for modern times. The Great Exception: There are structural challenges in being a minority in a small country Trade-off mindsets: There is too high a fixation on the myopic “best /better” decision, as opposed to a holistic view accounting for trade-offs. Bursting the Bubble: Public Officers should engage deeply in the “real world” and avoid being trapped in a bubble.

Education 2 - On Defining Education and the End of Tuition

Aug 1, 2021 · 8 min read

TLDR: I frame Education through a its aim to i) Conform to social requirements (social responsibility), and ii) Living Well (Individual responsibility). Ending tuition intuitively helps minimise domestic inequality - but the issue is far more complicated than it seems. In my last post, I wrote about the western glorification of the Asian education system, and tried to paint a fuller picture on the pros and cons of different systems.

Education 1 - Education Systems

May 19, 2021 · 7 min read

TLDR: Accelerate a diversity of experiences and the self-discovery of passions. Teach a kid curiosity, experimentation with execution, history and human nature. Preamble I am not a teacher. And I never have been - aside from a couple of volunteering stints here and there. But every now and then, I come across two running commentaries that keep popping up on the topic of education. First, is a narrative that lavishes praise on the academics of some Asian countries, including China, Korea, and Singapore.

A Reflection on Moving out in 2021

May 15, 2021 · 7 min read

TLDR: Moving out has allowed me to: Rediscover and taking ownership of my wellbeing and creativity Been an important bulwark against ennui Recognise (more accurately) my finanncial and quality of life needs March 2021, a young man with a metabolic age ten years younger than his actual age (thanks boditrax), finally took action that has been weighing on his mind for years… I, after much deliberation, moved out.

Economics 8 - Critical Uncertainties and Battlegrounds of the Future

Apr 22, 2021 · 1 min read

TLDR; As I ramble on in this indulgent thought experiment, I first want to call out some aspects that I still understand poorly or that remain highly uncertain in the future The Determinants of the future economy (within decades) Through my past role in Strategic Planning, I have come to be very fond of a tool called Scenario Planning - a systematic way to look at how the future might play out.

Economics 7 - Sector Tier List - F***, Marry, Kill

Apr 15, 2021 · 2 min read

TLDR; On a more lighthearted note… Arising from the previous post on the nonsense economy, I prioritise sector importance by what I would do if… I could control the world’s economy. If I were hypothetically able to shape the world to my moral compass…to shape it to what I feel is right. How might I view it? F*** - indulgent, but not necessary….just nice to have. Characterized by Good returns to society, as a want, to live a good life.

Economics 6 - The Rise of the Nonsense Economy

Apr 8, 2021 · 8 min read

TLDR; As marketing becomes the key differentiator in a world where material functionality is commoditised, there is a real risk of pervasive bullshit (I am yet to read aseminal piece on this). Yet, in the pursuit of growth, capital will continue to flow to such areas. This I term, as the rise of the “Nonsense Economy”. It is the new frontier of rent-seeking behaviour, and detrimental to the economy. If you have been following my previous posts, I sum up many observations which culminate into a phenomena we see today.

Economics 5 - The Shift to Intangibility

Apr 1, 2021 · 5 min read

TLDR; There are reasons to believe that the previously described trends may not hold true in the future; The gravity of economic activity is shifting away from tangible products, to intangible services. This shift presents big challenges for modern economies - many of which are yet to be addressed properly. Things are Changing As earlier described, from a cyclical point of view - the world is at an inflection point of great change.