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Economics professor gives Singapore something to chew over

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Should Singapore lift its long-standing ban on chewing gum to attract more foreign talent? That is the sticky debate being chewed over following comments by renowned American economist Lester Thurow.

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Singapore must embrace foreign talent readily and 'make them feel like citizens' if it wants to be another Silicon Valley and be seen as an attractive place to live and work, advised the Massachusetts Institute of Technology management and economics professor during a recent trip.

'Change the law on chewing gum, because it makes the rest of the world think you control everything, which you don't,' he said.

Of course, Mr Thurow's premise is a little larger than the chewing gum issue.

What he was trying to say was, if Singapore wants to lure and retain more foreign professionals to improve its economy, don't scare them off with an image of a paternalistic society that controls citizens' every move.

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Everyone's heard the joke about Singapore being a 'fine' city. Pop star Mariah Carey even asked whether she would be arrested for wearing a bikini during her recent Singapore visit.

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