What people need in Singapore: A household budgets study

Abstract

The study of household budgets is situated within an extensive field of research on human needs and social inclusion. Our study ascertains how ordinary Singaporeans think about what constitutes basic needs in Singapore today and determines the household budgets necessary to meet these needs.

Needs vary across the life course and are dependent on household configurations. Our study focuses on households of single and partnered parents and their children across various age groups—below 2 years old; 2–6; 7–12; 13–18; and 19–25. We also updated the budgets generated in an earlier wave of research for elderly persons aged 65 years and older, and single adults aged 55– 64 years old.

This study adopted the Minimum Income Standards (MIS) approach to determine the household budgets required for a basic standard of living. The consensus-based focus group discussions in this approach produce results that reflect the lived realities and ordinary habits of people living in contemporary Singapore; capture the diverse and evolving needs for people at various stages of life and in varying household arrangements; embody the values and principles that ordinary Singaporeans identify with; as well as identify concrete items and precise budgets that map onto those values and principles.