Singapore Economy – What is Happening With Singapore’s Economy?
Singapore is a city-state in maritime Southeast Asia and a sovereign island. Its economy depends primarily on foreign direct investment. The nation has an overall current account surplus. Singapore also faces pressure from inflation. Read on to find out what is happening with Singapore’s economy. You will also learn about its manufacturing sector.
Current account surplus
The current account surplus of Singapore has been a feature of Singapore’s economic development since the mid-1980s. It peaked in 2007 at 27% of GNDI and has generally averaged at around 20%. However, the trend growth rate of Singapore’s economy has declined over the past decade, while the country’s saving rate has increased in recent years, mainly as a result of the country’s ageing population. The demographic trends and shifting savings and investment behavior in the domestic economy have impacted the country’s current account trajectory.
Although a current account surplus is generally beneficial for a country, it is important to note that it can put upward pressure on a country’s currency. It may also indicate lower domestic demand for imports, which could hamper employment. But on the bright side, a current account surplus provides the country with additional foreign exchange resources, which it can invest in other countries.
A positive current account balance indicates a nation is a net lender to the world, whereas a negative balance indicates that a country is net-debt to the world. A current account surplus means that the country is exporting more than it imports, which is a positive sign. It also means that a country has more exports than imports, which means that it has more foreign exchange in its hands than it is borrowing. However, it is important to note that a persistently negative current account balance would lead to higher prices and wages, and would be incongruous with the MAS’s goal of maintaining low inflation.
In terms of trade, the United States and Singapore have a close trading relationship. The United States and Singapore Free Trade Agreement entered into force on January 1, 2004. The free trade agreement has been a success, resulting in a large increase in trade and investment between the countries. The trade relationship between the countries reached $93.7 billion in 2020, and the U.S. was Singapore’s 17th largest trading partner in 2020. In terms of goods, the U.S. was in a surplus of $13.5 billion in 2020.
The current account balance is directly affected by the commodity price. If the commodity price is high, the current account balance will increase, which is good news. However, a high price will also affect imports, thus widening the current account deficit. The commodity price is an important factor in the current account of developing countries.
