[msohcw]

Thanks for speaking some sense. I suspect the author got the notion of Singaporean pride wrong. We're far more prideful when we feel attacked or maligned by foreigners, despite the day to day lamentations. You've stated arguments I agree with, but I do honestly feel that you're overgeneralizing to a large extent. I think it helps if we consider again what you mentioned about size. Singapore has a relatively small population. It's true, we don't produce that many groundbreaking innovations, but we need to consider the mathematical probabilities of having them in a relatively smaller population as well. My guess is that the detriment is at least an n^2 term, with less sharing of ideas, interaction and encouragement to pursue risk. As a student, I increasingly see people pursuing the entrepreneurship and more risky careers, rather than "selling out". After reading so many American articles and opinions and blogs, I don't think the idea of pursuing low risk paths is specifically amplified in Singapore. Everyone wants to do amazing things, but no one dares to. It just so happens that it's more common in other countries because of larger populations, and the environment that successful by chance entrepreneurs (I say this not to deride them but as a point of argument) have fostered. I don't have statistics to back this up, but hey we had Creative and Sembcorp/KeppelCorp. Our successes are just a lot less sexy. There's a lot of fallacious stereotyping as a result. Pragmatism doesn't imply a lack of innovation, creativity or success. On the contrary, it finds the most efficient way through to it. Our research institutions ASTAR focus on the commercialization of technology. That means we miss the sights and sounds and new discoveries along the way, we don't have Nobel Prizes, but can one really say that one type of practical innovation is better than the other?

Although props to you on the culture analogy. Nothing interesting ever happens in Singapore. For that, I think we must be at least slightly thankful. It's interesting to watch a government's politicking, gridlock and shutdown, but if and only if it's in another country

[creamyhorror]

> My guess is that the detriment is at least an n^2 term, with less sharing of ideas, interaction and encouragement to pursue risk.

Absolutely. That's part of the reason for the lower level of risk-taking and innovation here. It boils down to having a small population.

> As a student, I increasingly see people pursuing the entrepreneurship and more risky careers, rather than "selling out".

Yes, this is definitely a trend, and a good one. I was talking more about the past. The pressure to go for fancy careers is still high, though - except that banking and consulting have supplanted medicine and law to some extent.

> It just so happens that it's more common in other countries because of larger populations

You seem to be arguing that it's not our fault that we have less risk-taking and innovation here, it's just our small population that's the problem. Well, I don't entirely disagree - I think our size is half the problem, and the other half is our society's historical evolution (and cultural roots). It doesn't change the fact that our market size limits our entrepreneurial prospects - unless we learn to sell to big, lucrative markets like Israeli startups did.

> we had Creative and Sembcorp/KeppelCorp

Creative was our sole shining star, and now it's essentially gone, massively outcompeted by Apple. SembCorp, PSA, Surbana and the like are ex-national corporations (IIRC) that I don't consider examples of entrepreneurship - they were built in the mould of efficiently-run government departments from the start. I do like the fact that Charles & Keith, Hyflux, BreadTalk, et al are seeing some success overseas. Still, we don't have a Sony or Samsung.

> Our research institutions ASTAR focus on the commercialization of technology

They didn't use to, and now they're driving the real scientists and big names away with their renewed focus on commercialisation. Honestly they should never have focused on basic research in the first place, but instead on commercialising technologies from around the world.

I like your optimism that things are changing - that's the spirit we need to take more adventurous paths. The more people who want to achieve big things and don't want to settle for the usual routes, the better.

To our foreign friends, our young generation is pretty alright.

[ghshephard]

Regarding Risk - what are the issues/concerns about bankruptcy in Singapore? In the United States, most of the risk is borne by the lender, and, in the event of financial collapse - the individual usually is able to come back swinging after a few years in the penalty box - which certainly reduces the downside to taking risk. If they finance with venture capital, or a LLC, then even those several years in the penalty box aren't a concern - ALL of the financial risk is borne by the VCs.

The reduction of cost-of-failure plays a very large role in whether people are prepared to risk failure.

[lazylizard]

check out the median income vs the price of housing.. the median singaporean couple can barely afford a flat with a 30 year loan.. the average couple might afford to have a baby.. or a car.. there's no room for risk for most singaporeans' lives. other than the state run lottery..check out the queues...