[xiaoma]

Singapore does invest heavily in education and with great results. Since the discussion is about prison population and expenses, though, it's worth mentioning that Singapore's correctional regularly employs executions rather than paying to for the housing and correctional officers necessary to hold a prisoner for decades. Also, unlike the US, where executions are extremely difficult, controversial and expensive, they're efficient and cheap.

It's hard to dispute the economic success of Singapore's model, but it's not one that any western countries could or would emulate.