Well, it seems that Republicans are going all in on the idea that a big reason we have high unemployment is that unemployment benefits reduce the incentive to seek work. Aside from the sheer cruelty, it’s really bad economics, but whatever. And I found myself remembering a passage near the beginning of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre:
Anyone who is willing to work and is serious about it will certainly find a job. Only you must not go to the man who tells you this, for he has no job to offer and doesn’t know anyone who knows of a vacancy. This is exactly the reason why he gives you such generous advice, out of brotherly love, and to demonstrate how little he knows the world.
Paul Krugman, New York Times
Friday, March 12, 2010
Issues relating to productivity
To be productive means to be able to produce more units of output in a given time, i.e. to reduce the cost of producing each unit. One can produce more by working faster, but this is likely to result in mistakes and poorer quality. It usually means to find a better way to produce the goods, while maintaining the quality of the product.
The best way to reduce cost is to eliminate waste, which adds to the total cost of productivity. There are many activities that are wasteful and costly and do not add to the value of the products, such as impractical compliance with safety, health and security. While these functions are important, they have to be examined carefully in terms of cost and usefulness, and are not to be complied blindly. Many activities in Singapore have this hidden burden of compliance, which adds to the cost of production.
If the goods are to be produced using a new method, we must be prepared to make a change. Many people are not willing to take the responsibility to make a change in Singapore. They prefer the safety of sticking to the old ways. This tendency to play safe is a negative trait of Singapore and is likely to impede our progress towards productivity.
I am not advocating that we go to the other extreme to abandon safety, health, security or to take short cuts in our production. I am asking that we must have an open mind to examine these issues. If we continue to be risk adverse, and to play safe, we will not be able to achieve th quantum leap in productivity.
Here are my views about improving productivity in Singapore.
Tan Kin Lian
The best way to reduce cost is to eliminate waste, which adds to the total cost of productivity. There are many activities that are wasteful and costly and do not add to the value of the products, such as impractical compliance with safety, health and security. While these functions are important, they have to be examined carefully in terms of cost and usefulness, and are not to be complied blindly. Many activities in Singapore have this hidden burden of compliance, which adds to the cost of production.
If the goods are to be produced using a new method, we must be prepared to make a change. Many people are not willing to take the responsibility to make a change in Singapore. They prefer the safety of sticking to the old ways. This tendency to play safe is a negative trait of Singapore and is likely to impede our progress towards productivity.
I am not advocating that we go to the other extreme to abandon safety, health, security or to take short cuts in our production. I am asking that we must have an open mind to examine these issues. If we continue to be risk adverse, and to play safe, we will not be able to achieve th quantum leap in productivity.
Here are my views about improving productivity in Singapore.
Tan Kin Lian
Pay TV operators to carry contents of third parties
The Media Development Authority has announced that they will require pay TV operators to carry the contents of third parties, but this will only apply to future contents.
This is a good move, but does not go far enough. The biggest damage is going to occur in respect of existing content, specifically the English Premier League. Over the next few months, many households will have to go through the expensive exercise of switching their platform (from Starhub to Singtel) or installing a new set of cables. It is wasteful and inconvenient.
Singtel is likely to face serious resource issues in meeting the heavy demand and also in addressing the technical issues of connectivity and customer experience. Already, they faced glitches. This is bound to increase significantly.
MDA or the acting minister for information, communication and the arts should take the bold step of mandating that this requirement apply to existing contents as well, to take effect from (say) 1 June 2010. It will be doing a favor for Singtel. They will be able to reach out to a wider audience of viewers and earn additional subscriptions to meet their heavy payment for the EPL content.
Starhub has earlier announced that they will carry the EPL content for free on its cable platform. Singtel should take up this offer, in the interest of Singapore (i.e. to reduce waste). I congratulate Starhub for its gesture in the interest of the public (although some people say that it is done for commercial reason).
MDA has announced that a new generation set top box will be provided in the future. Any advantage that Singtel can earn by forcing consumers to move to its Mio platform will be temporary and will probably be yield sufficient commercial advantage (but I could be wrong).
I hope that MDA and the acting minister will take the bold step now, instead of waiting for the damage to be done.
Tan Kin Lian
This is a good move, but does not go far enough. The biggest damage is going to occur in respect of existing content, specifically the English Premier League. Over the next few months, many households will have to go through the expensive exercise of switching their platform (from Starhub to Singtel) or installing a new set of cables. It is wasteful and inconvenient.
Singtel is likely to face serious resource issues in meeting the heavy demand and also in addressing the technical issues of connectivity and customer experience. Already, they faced glitches. This is bound to increase significantly.
MDA or the acting minister for information, communication and the arts should take the bold step of mandating that this requirement apply to existing contents as well, to take effect from (say) 1 June 2010. It will be doing a favor for Singtel. They will be able to reach out to a wider audience of viewers and earn additional subscriptions to meet their heavy payment for the EPL content.
Starhub has earlier announced that they will carry the EPL content for free on its cable platform. Singtel should take up this offer, in the interest of Singapore (i.e. to reduce waste). I congratulate Starhub for its gesture in the interest of the public (although some people say that it is done for commercial reason).
MDA has announced that a new generation set top box will be provided in the future. Any advantage that Singtel can earn by forcing consumers to move to its Mio platform will be temporary and will probably be yield sufficient commercial advantage (but I could be wrong).
I hope that MDA and the acting minister will take the bold step now, instead of waiting for the damage to be done.
Tan Kin Lian
Puzzles for school holidays
Try to occupy your children with these puzzles during the school holidays. It is fun and challenges their creativity. The puzzles are FREE. Click here.
A MLM scheme
Hi Mr Tan,
I came across a few website that claims that a person can earn thousands of dollars in a few month by just working from home. Somehow I managed to find a website that is Singapore based that claimed to do that. The website shows a lot of success stories, comments by Singaporeans and also proof of payment etc. Out of curiosity, I went to try out the offer. The website offer a few packages ranging from Free account to SGD$250 a year. I signed up for the SGD$100 2 years package as it seems to be the popular package for starters.
Basically how this thing works is that when you sign up under a specific person, the person will earn commission. The higher the package the referral signed up with, the higher commission they will earn. After which, the person start sending email on tips to get more people sign up i.e. through advertising, words of mouth etc. I tried online advertising and somehow manage to get quite a number of users sign up under me. Most of them sign up the free package (which I suppose will take a lot of years to earn and also I won't earn any commission for that) and also somehow I got 3 person who sign up paid package under me.
During that period of time, users under this program need to reach SGD$100 in order to cash out. Once, I reach SGD$100+, I requested for cash out as I'm afraid that this might not last long. It took quite long for the cash out to process but they did pay me. Although my package still left with 1 more + year. I have stop participate in this program though my account still active. The reason is because I just wanted to know more about how this things work and also I have already got back my money (though I earn a few dollars). Most importantly, I'm afraid that this program might cause some people like students who are not working and fork out their savings. They might lose their money if they cannot find people to sign up under them or they may even pester their friend to sign up under them resulting in lose friendship (see the link below on Push MLM and lose a friend). Moreover, I don't think this kind of program will last long and the person who earn the most is the creator of this program.
I am just wondering what kind of scheme is this called and is this legal? I do have friends who are in MLM who sell health products that also requires to fork out money for products and additional money for training. When they approach me to attend a talk, I will try to avoid. Friendship starts to become drift apart because of this. I frequent read newspaper also found out there are advertisement on "Earn millions dollar a month/year" by attending their seminar to learn more. I never attend such seminar before so I wonder is this similar to one of the above-mentioned story?
It would be glad if you could share your views on the above-mentioned story, Ponzi Scheme, MLM, newspaper ads and related stuff.
Best RegardsRayLinks
The package that I signed up under (she is the one I keep contact with and I believe she has a lot of people sign up under her)Push MLM and lose a friend
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