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Questioning The Homo Economicus: Are Concepts Of Rationality And Self-Interest Outdated?, Knowledge@Smu
Questioning The Homo Economicus: Are Concepts Of Rationality And Self-Interest Outdated?, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Many classical economic theories rely on the assumption that people, and thus markets, are rather predictable; that humans are rational and self-interested beings. Yet, psychologists have argued that human behaviours are highly complex and cannot be understood in these simple terms. The emergence of interdisciplinary research in both economics and psychology has narrowed the gaps and challenged traditional thinking, as participants at a SMU Social Sciences Capstone Seminar found out.
Religion, Science And Morality: Concentric Circles Or Mutually Exclusive?, Knowledge@Smu
Religion, Science And Morality: Concentric Circles Or Mutually Exclusive?, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Much has been said about the relationship between religion and science. What exactly does it mean when the two comes into play with morality? A scientist and professor of philosophy give their take in a seminar in SMU.
Human Trafficking: An Ancient Trade With A Modern Face, Knowledge@Smu
Human Trafficking: An Ancient Trade With A Modern Face, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Most people consider slavery to be extinct today. However, the practice has merely gone underground and is manifested today as human trafficking— a problem not seen or experienced directly by us in our daily lives. This invisible trade of human cargo is one of the most lucrative illegal businesses in the world today. Prominent expert on human trafficking Siddharth Kara shed light on the issue and look at ways to combat human trafficking in a seminar held in SMU.
When It Comes To Poverty Reduction, Less May Be More, Knowledge@Smu
When It Comes To Poverty Reduction, Less May Be More, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Most people expect strong economic growth to be closely linked to a decline in poverty. By the same token, fast-developing economies should experience fast-shrinking poverty rates. But, in reality, this link between growth and poverty is seldom consistent. In 'Small Works: Poverty and Economic Development in Southwest China', political scientist John A. Donaldson discusses an alternative take on mediating the effects of economic growth on the poor through a multi-method study of two Chinese provinces.
Watching The Clock: Challenges For The World's Fastest Growing Economies, Knowledge@Smu
Watching The Clock: Challenges For The World's Fastest Growing Economies, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Time seems to move a little faster in economies with greater wealth, higher education and more demanding jobs; sometimes driven by personal ambitions to achieve more, or perhaps because society demands it. Speaking at a Wee Kim Wee Centre Lunchtime Seminar, renowned China expert Wang Gungwu says that life on the fast lane has become so ingrained in our thinking of modern societies that it is no longer questioned but accepted as a condition of development: Speed up or get left behind.
Reclaiming ‘People Power’ For The People, Knowledge@Smu
Reclaiming ‘People Power’ For The People, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
The recent ‘Arab Spring’ did not only topple some long-time rulers, it also served as a reminder to all that governments, regardless of political systems, draw their strength and authority from its people, says Philippine President Benigno Aquino III. Speaking at SMU’s Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia Public Lecture Series, the premier shares his views on the challenges and promises that come with ‘people power’ revolutions.
As 2012 Beckons: How Will Leadership Succession Shape Us And China Policies In A Year Of Change?, Knowledge@Smu
As 2012 Beckons: How Will Leadership Succession Shape Us And China Policies In A Year Of Change?, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
China’s President Hu Jintao has ended his state visit to America last month with not just US$47 billion worth of commercial deals, but also some conciliatory gestures. Nevertheless, the looming question is what will happen in 2012, with a new team of Chinese leaders taking over, while US President Barack Obama stands for re-election. Events over the past year have marked more ups than downs in the relationship between these two giants. What worries the Chinese leaders? What are domestic issues affecting their conduct of foreign policy? University of Virginia's Harry Harding shares his take with SMU.
Understanding The Rapid Rise Of Charismatic Christianity In Southeast Asia, Knowledge@Smu
Understanding The Rapid Rise Of Charismatic Christianity In Southeast Asia, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
There seems to be something about speaking in tongues, prophesy, sing-a-longs and loud music bands that augurs well with the well-heeled, educated, middle-class, ethnic Chinese Southeast Asian. Juliette Koning, a visiting professor at SMU, and her colleague first took notice of this as they were conducting research in the region; of how urban and upwardly mobile ethnic Chinese communities seemed to be drawn to this particular brand of Christian worship. An in-depth study that followed confirmed their observations. What's more, they found that while church attendances all across Asia have been expanding rapidly, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia are said to …
When Foreigners Influence Domestic Change: A Case For Transnational Advocacy, Knowledge@Smu
When Foreigners Influence Domestic Change: A Case For Transnational Advocacy, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Like it or not, socio-environmental issues extend beyond geopolitical boundaries. Southeast Asians might remember the Indonesian haze that had affected the region's air quality, for instance – an issue that was eventually addressed with the help of foreign groups; or the recovery efforts of the 2004 tsunami, which also involved many international entities. According to Yooil Bae, a political science professor at SMU, foreign groups can bring new insights and methods. But while there are benefits to knowledge-sharing and cooperation, the process can be tricky, especially when such advocacy groups clash with the state.
Powerful Politicians And Their Hand In Corporate Downsizing, Knowledge@Smu
Powerful Politicians And Their Hand In Corporate Downsizing, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
What is the relationship between government spending and the private sector? Do private companies really benefit from government spending? Would the appointment of politicians in key government committees have an impact on the allocation of government funds? Why do some states receive more government funds than others? These were questions that inspired an analysis into the public-private dynamic, presented at the Singapore Management University recently.
Political Participation: Influences And Implications, Knowledge@Smu
Political Participation: Influences And Implications, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Education has always been viewed as a predictor of a nation’s level of political participation. The levels of political activity in Latin America and East Asia, however, disprove this belief. SMU economics professor Davin Chor and Harvard public policy professor Filipe R. Campante attempt alternative explanations from an economic perspective. In the paper, “Schooling, Political Participation, and the Economy”, factors such as resources and human capital were examined.
Beyond Economic Data: Softer, Subjective Indicators Of A Nation’S Well-Being, Knowledge@Smu
Beyond Economic Data: Softer, Subjective Indicators Of A Nation’S Well-Being, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
A society, fuelled by trust and cooperation, should rank highly on life satisfaction and happiness. Traditional measures of well-being, however, largely overlook these factors, and rely mostly on economic data. In the paper, “The well-being of nations: linking together trust, cooperation and democracy”, William Tov, a social science professor at Singapore Management University (SMU), discusses the social implications of well-being for individuals and society at large.
Creative Commons: A License To Share, Knowledge@Smu
Creative Commons: A License To Share, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
In mid-2008, the Creative Commons licensing system was launched in Singapore. Warren Chik, law professor at the Singapore Management University, is a member of the Creative Commons Singapore team that has worked to adapt the licenses both linguistically and legally to Singapore’s jurisdiction. As Chik points out, these licenses reflect significant social, technological changes that have been unfolding in recent years. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Book Review: Anna-Katharina Hornidge Compares Singapore And Germany In “The Knowledge Society”, Knowledge@Smu
Book Review: Anna-Katharina Hornidge Compares Singapore And Germany In “The Knowledge Society”, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
An international think tank at the forefront of critical reflections about the rise of knowledge is the research group on Culture, Knowledge and Development at the Centre for Development Policy (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany. Anna-Katharina Hornidge is senior researcher at ZEF. Her book, The Knowledge Society -- Vision and Social Construction of Reality in Germany and Singapore, edited by Solvay Gerke and Hans-Dieter Evers and published in 2007, is reviewed by Thomas Menkhoff, professor of organisational behaviour at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University.
The Impact Of Terrorism On Economic Growth And Technology Innovation, Knowledge@Smu
The Impact Of Terrorism On Economic Growth And Technology Innovation, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
A large scale terrorist attack on a country can have wide-ranging and long-lasting effects at all levels. In a recent article, Singapore Management University economics professor Winston Koh examined how terrorism affects macro-economic growth and the current and future allocation of resources to R&D on counter-terrorism and intelligence gathering technologies. Koh spoke to Knowledge@SMU about some of the economic and technological impacts of terrorism in the US and beyond, and how businesses can become more resilient and better prepared for such threats. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No Zero Sum Game Between The Evolving Role Of The State And Market Forces In China, Knowledge@Smu
No Zero Sum Game Between The Evolving Role Of The State And Market Forces In China, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Is China’s remarkable economic progress a success story of market forces triumphing over the state in lifting millions out of poverty? Singapore Management University political science professor John Donaldson presents the case that, even as China underwent market reforms and emerged with impressive results, the role of the state did not diminish but shifted to other vital tasks and functions to facilitate and alter market forces. He also argues that, in this country of over 1.3 billion people, economic growth alone does not necessarily lead to poverty reduction.
China's Large Aircraft Program Gains Momentum: When Will It Take Off?, Knowledge@Smu
China's Large Aircraft Program Gains Momentum: When Will It Take Off?, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
With its decision earlier this year to relaunch its large aircraft program, China has signaled its intent to challenge Boeing and Airbus SA’s dominant positions in the global market. On February 26, the Chinese government announced its approval of the program and a future company to operate it. The news is a strong signal that, despite unsuccessful efforts in the 1980s, China sees the benefits of developing large aircraft, including the impact this will have on other industries, such as machinery, electronics, metallurgy, chemicals, energy and IT. What are the driving forces for this program and what will the new …
Land Of Opportunity: In The U.S., Immigrants And Entrepreneurs Are Increasingly The Same, Knowledge@Smu
Land Of Opportunity: In The U.S., Immigrants And Entrepreneurs Are Increasingly The Same, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
Consider these numbers: One in four technology and engineering companies founded in the U.S. between 1995 and 2005 had at least one founder who was foreign-born, many of them from India and China; nationwide, immigrant-founded companies generated $52 billion in sales in 2005 and employed 450,000 people; immigrant non-citizens in the U.S. were either named as the inventor or co-inventor in 24.2% of patent applications filed in 2006. These are some of the findings of a recent study titled, "America's New Immigrant Entrepreneurs," by Vivek Wadhwa, an executive in residence at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering, and a team …
Will The 2008 Olympics In Beijing Showcase Pollution As Well As World-Class Athletes?, Knowledge@Smu
Will The 2008 Olympics In Beijing Showcase Pollution As Well As World-Class Athletes?, Knowledge@Smu
Knowledge@SMU
For many, the 2008 Beijing Olympics are seen as a "coming-out" party for the world's most populous nation. China is investing billions of dollars in sports venues such as the Bird's Nest in Beijing, the modernist national stadium currently under construction; subway-line extensions, and other infrastructure improvements to make the games a world-class spectacle. But some wonder whether air pollution will crash China's Olympic party and focus world attention on deepening environmental problems that threaten the country's economic growth.