Thrive by The Business Times asked me whether a graduate today could afford the commitments I made in my twenties. The honest answer is no — and the reason is the same piece of arithmetic I teach every week. Featured in: Thrive by The Business Times · View the feature In my twenties I owned a car and a private …
The Economic Logic Behind Singapore’s Education “Arms Race”
My commentary in Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报), 12 August 2026 By Kelvin Hong (方健文), Founder and Principal Tutor, The Economics Tutor I run a tuition centre. Economically, I have every reason to want Singapore’s education system to stay exactly as competitive as it is. That is the uncomfortable position I wrote from last week in Lianhe Zaobao, in a commentary titled …
Featured on Money FM 89.3: Why Young Singaporeans Are Earning More But Feeling Poorer
Despite starting salaries jumping by 35% to 40% over the last decade, there is widespread anxiety among young adults in Singapore that they are financially falling behind. Our Principal Tutor, Kelvin Hong, was recently interviewed on Money FM 89.3 with Hongbin Jeong to break down the real-world economics of inflation, housing, and the true cost of living. If you have …
AI & The Economy: Real-World Examples for A-Level & IB Economics Essays
If you are an A-Level or IB Economics student, you already know that examiners love contemporary, real-world examples. In 2026, there is no topic more relevant—or more heavily tested—than the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology on the global economy. However, generic news articles won’t help you score a Level 7 or an A grade. You need to know …
Real World Application: Market Structure & Contestability in Singapore’s Political Scene
When JC A-Level Economics and IB Economics students write essays on Market Structure, they typically rely on standard examples: telecommunications, utility companies, or tech giants. However, to truly stand out to examiners and score top marks in evaluation (AO4), students must demonstrate the ability to apply economic theories to unconventional, real-world scenarios. One of the most compelling out-of-the-box applications of …
The Singapore Economy: Navigating Global Macroeconomic Challenges (A-Level Exam Guide)
Let’s cut to the chase: Singapore’s vulnerability to global shocks isn’t just a textbook concept—it is the #1 most frequently tested Macroeconomics topic in the Singapore-Cambridge A-Level Economics exams. Whether you are tackling a tricky Case Study Question (CSQ) or structuring a 15-mark Part B) essay, understanding how our small and open economy navigates global headwinds is your golden ticket …
Real-World Example: Singapore’s 2026 Fiscal Policy, Wealth Inequality & The ARF/PARF System
The Macroeconomic Context: Slower Social Mobility & The Wealth Gap In February 2026, Singapore’s Ministry of Finance (MOF) released a landmark occasional paper revealing that while income inequality has narrowed, wealth inequality remains high, with a wealth Gini coefficient of 0.55. The data showed that the top 20% of households hold an average net wealth of S$5.3 million (driven largely …
Economics in the Real World: China’s Tuition Ban, Black Markets, and Government Failure (2026 Update)
If you are an A-Level (JC) or IB Economics student looking for a killer real-world example to use in your Market Failure or Government Intervention essays, look no further than China’s 2021 “Double Reduction” policy and its subsequent evolution into a massive underground economy. While many textbooks use outdated examples of government regulation, understanding how this policy has played out …
Whither Inflation In Singapore? A Macroeconomic Analysis (Updated for 2026)
Understanding the factors affecting inflation in Singapore today is critical—not just for your personal finances, but for acing your A-Level and IB Economics exams. While Singapore saw a welcome drop in core inflation recently, authorities like the MAS and MTI project that inflationary pressures are quietly building up again in 2026. To understand why, we must break this down into …
Mastering Opportunity Cost: Real-World Applications and Exam Strategies (A-Level & IB)
All economics students learn this early on: Opportunity Cost is the value of the next best alternative foregone. (If you could not state this on your own, better check out our post on Economics Definitions.) It is a vital concept in economic theory, but it is also a powerful framework for life. Let’s look at how to apply this concept—both …