New data on household budgets in Singapore shows that in order for hawker food culture to thrive, and for stall owners to earn more than a subsistence income, they must be paid about S$1 more per plate.
Tag: Economics
Posted inInvestigation
On Patrol, a Mekong Village Tackles Electric Fishing Scourge
Volunteer community patrollers along the Mekong in Cambodia aim to stop a rise in illegal electric fishing, which harms river ecosystems and livelihoods that rely on protected fisheries. But the sale of outlawed gear allows the dangerous practice to continue.
Posted inResearch
How Much Should Hawker Food Cost in Singapore?
How much should hawker food in Singapore actually cost if we want hawkers to earn a minimum appropriate standard of living?
Posted inFeature
“Let It End in Our Generation”: How the Thailand Protests Came to Be
Thailand has seen massive pro-democracy demonstrations this year calling for constitutional reform. Thai news site, Prachatai, unpacks what is behind the protests, what is happening now and what the future may hold for Thailand.
Posted inFeature
The Serpent Seekers of North Java
Catching snakes for their skin used to be a lucrative business in North Java. Now, with imports of snakes increasingly banned abroad and the use of buffalo hide as a substitute, snake catchers in Indonesia may soon have to find other sources of income.
Posted inFeature
Down and Out in Bandung’s Dollar City
In the 1960s, Bandung experienced a textile boom that brought prosperity and jobs to the area. In the present day, locals complain of endemic pollution and health problems linked to unscrupulous factories dumping their waste in the city’s waterways.
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Posted inFeature
Fear and Loathing at Citarum’s Pollution Ground Zero
Along West Java’s longest river, the Citarum, chemical pollution, siltation and agriculture waste have made the waterway one of the world’s dirtiest. Those working on its banks say efforts are being made to clean it up. But will they turn the tide?
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Posted inFeature
Singapore’s Migrant Labour-Climate Crisis Conundrum
Some migrants in Singapore are employed in industries that exploit both the environment and workers themselves, contributing to the climate crisis that sent many fleeing hostile weather conditions at home, as well as a labour crisis that relies on precarious work.
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Posted inFeature
The Rat Catchers of Takeo
During the rainy season, rising waters in the rice fields surrounding Cambodia’s Koh Andet district provide an ample supply of rodents. As the global economic downturn leaves many jobless, some are turning to catching and exporting rats to make ends meet.
Posted inResearch
The Citizens’ Agenda: The Parties Respond
Nearly a year ago, we embarked on the Citizens’ Agenda: our quest to find out what our Singaporean community thinks are the most important issues facing Singapore, and then to write and commission articles on those subjects. Now, with Singapore’s General Election looming, we complete our journey by telling you how the political parties responded to the issues.