Prioritising social grace in Singapore

 

In this commentary written for National Day, Prof Euston Quah, Albert Winsemius Chair Professor of Economics and Director of the Economic Growth Centre at SSS@NTU and NTU researcher Tan Jun Rui write that there is a perceived lack of social grace in Singapore, relative to countries such as Japan, Canada, and even Thailand. Is there any truth to this oft-heard allegation, or is it instead a false perception? According to the latest Graciousness Survey conducted by the Singapore Kindness Movement in 2022, the perceptions of Singaporeans regarding the state of social graciousness are mostly positive despite the constraints of fewer opportunities to exhibit graciousness due to reduced social interaction during the pandemic. Relying primarily on damage control and a penalty-based approach to nudge socially gracious behaviour needs to be revised. Social graciousness may yield potential economic benefits and strengthen society's fabric, especially in a cosmopolitan country such as Singapore.  

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