In an interview, SMU Assistant Professor of Finance (Education) and Director of SMU’s Financial Literacy, Inclusion, and Technology Programme Aurobindo Ghosh said that the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) tightened policy is expected to cushion the potential rising costs that Singaporeans might face. Asst Prof Ghosh added that the policy is timely and pre-emptive; despite talks going on, the Middle East crisis might last a little longer than expected.
Commenting on snail mail popularity, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship Niloofar Abolfathi said the rise in popularity of snail mail fits a familiar pattern: the reemergence of products once thought obsolete, like film photography. Some artists around the world have figured out a way to guarantee a stable monthly paycheck: subscription-based snail-mail clubs. She said that creative work often comes with highly variable income, making monthly subscriptions more reliable.
Commenting on Singapore Changi Airport’s plan to revamp its private terminal and expand its lifestyle hub, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said that the facilities would help to reduce the stress and anxiety that some of the premium leisure travellers might have. Asst Prof Fan added that the facilities might convince these travellers to take the extra trip and stop by in Singapore.
Commenting on the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore's (CAAS) allocation of S$1.3 billion to support Changi Airport's expansion, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said that with aviation demand continuing to grow, Singapore's existing four terminals will eventually reach saturation, making the T5 project a necessary pre-emptive deployment to break through limitations and benefit the overall economy.
In an interview, SMU Assistant Professor of Finance (Education) and Director of SMU’s Financial Literacy, Inclusion, and Technology Programme Aurobindo Ghosh said the recent uptick in inflation is driven by rising oil prices, exacerbated by disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil and gas flows. He added that price pressures are expected to persist.
In a commentary, SMU Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources Michael Schaerer opined that while headphones help block distractions, they may also lead to negative perceptions. He noted that colleagues often rely on visible cues to judge engagement, especially when performance is not directly observable.
Commenting on homegrown brands shifting its production overseas, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami believes that despite the announcement that Tiger Beer’s production would be offshored to Malaysia and Vietnam, the beverage will likely continue to be seen as a Singapore brand for the foreseeable future. He added that for almost a century, Tiger has been connected to Singapore and that connection will mean more than the outsourcing of production to other countries.
Commenting on the 13% fare revenue support scheme, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said that the 13% fare subsidy is a way to partially offset the sudden price increases and to soften the unexpected impact from the situation in the Middle East. Asst Prof Fan added that it is unlikely that the Government could fully compensate for all of the changes and negative impacts that the Middle East crisis will have on businesses, individuals, and households.
Commenting on how Singapore and Malaysia will handle accidents on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) link, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said that a similar arrangement between the US and Canada – where foreign officers operate under the host country laws and cannot act independently – offers a useful reference. He stressed the need for clear frameworks to enable swift incident management, including ensuring at least one side is empowered to act.
Commenting on China’s high-level national service industry conference, SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian said China must expand domestic demand to sustain around 5% annual growth. He noted that while goods trade has long run a surplus with limited room for further expansion, services trade remains in significant deficit—reaching RMB 828.72 billion (S$153.76 billion) last year. Developing high-quality domestic services could narrow this gap and serve as a new growth engine.
