A couple of things are going on here. First, I really do think people in Singapore don't realize how good Singapore is. Also there are problems with GDP being equated to happiness - this correlation is not very high. Escaping abject poverty (not having food on the table…) is a GDP matter, but once you escape the very worst the correlation drops a great deal. In many cases the richest countries are actually much worse off for how satisfied people are.
As countries get rich people compare themselves to what they don't have that they see others with (and when the country is rich there are tons of rich people with all sorts of stuff to be jealous of). Often when the country is poorer people are happy with what they have (compared to what their parents had…). The distribution of wealth also is a big factor - the more unequal the distribution is the more frustration that exists. I think the happiest rich countries are those with the lowest concentration of wealth (most equal distribution) which is in Northern Europe.
Also remember wealth is not the same as income. Singapore had very little wealth in 1970. In the last 15 years income has been very high. But it often takes decades, if not generations, to build up wealth. Those stores of wealth give people security and make them feel much wealthier than just having a large paycheck.
These are some of the reasons for a disconnect in GDP figures and what people feel there are plenty more reasons.
I also question if Singapore really is on the top. In the top 10 wouldn't surprise me.
I'm a "tu sheng to zhan" S'porean.
In the 70s ~ 90s, I feel very proud to be a S'porean.
Comes the 21st 世纪, S'pore has change.
Now we are DIVIDED.
We are TOLD to welcome foreigners.
Our mini ster even throw in 10m to help them intergate
The bus and train are crowded
Pigeon holes are so expensive
Try working in a company where U e a minority (S'porean)
Try working in a company where they only speak their own forign language and U LL
When I start to think about the future for our next generation
I dont even know what course my children should take in Uni
Can U advise.............
There are so many fake FT, with fake degree, who are to accept lower pay
My ex colleague (recently in the news), he is a HC boy, a NUS graduate, a manager, a pastor
and recently out of job, nearing jump down from his flat
why, why, why..................
Do U know how many PMETs are jobless now
Do U know how many PMETs are driving TAXI now
so, how can say that
"First, I really do think people in Singapore don't realize how good Singapore is."
If I were to migrate to say, Japan
I will learn their culture and Japanese language first
Look at SIN now, we e TOLD to help them........(maybe to replace us)
True Blue S'porean, U be the judge
BTW e u a S'porean