Episode Ep 697 July 23, 2025 1 hr 36 min

#692 ft. Prof. Donald Low - The COE Problem, SM Lee vs Jamus Lim & The Rental Crisis in SG

Donald Low, Professor of Practice at the HKUST Institute for Public Policy, is back to unpack the recent debate around COEs involving SM Lee Hsien Loong and WP’s Jamus Lim, as well as comments by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow. Plus: Singapore’s rent crisis is boiling over, with tenants frustrated by landlords’ rising expectations. Are landlords really the villains - or is there more to the story?

Check out Prof Donald Low:

The Price of Zero: China's policy missteps during and after COVID
Donald’s Book recommendations:
- ⁠Capitalism and its Critics, John Cassidy
- The Undercover Economist, Tim Harford
- ⁠⁠The Economic Naturalist: In Search of Explanations for Everyday Enigmas, Robert H. Frank

Folklory

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(00:00) Folklory
(01:03) Intro
(02:06) Discussion on GE2025
(05:41) COE System Analysis
(12:08) Economics of Private Vehicle Ownership
(21:19) Comparison with Hong Kong
(27:44) Parking Challenges
(29:25) Institutional Rules and COE in Singapore
(36:42) Economics of Scarce Resources
(44:07) Institutional Change and Empathy in Economics
(45:38) Institutions and Urban Planning
(54:47) Sustainability and Resource Management
(58:56) Economic Thoughts of Singapore's Leadership
(01:00:29) US Trade Policies and Impact
(01:02:15) Globalisation and Economic Shifts
(01:11:53) Hong Kong vs Singapore Living Conditions
(01:20:06) Economic Education and Resources
(01:27:32) One Shiok Thing