In a commentary co-authored by SMU Associate Professor of Marketing Thomas Allard, the authors found that charities that appear highly capable often receive fewer donations, a pattern called the “Charity Capacity Curse.” They explained that while well-run organisations are best equipped to create lasting impact, donors give less when a charity seems self-sufficient, as it reduces their sense of being needed.
In a commentary, SMU Senior Lecturer of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources and Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business Paul Lim recalled his doctoral studies in Chain, which exposed him to the "996" work culture of long hours driven by the belief that effort guarantees success, and also by peer pressure. With more Chinese firms entering Singapore, he noted concerns about such habits spreading, though Singapore's history of selectively absorbing foreign work norms suggests it will adopt what works.
More than 25 prominent figures are expected to attend the WE2025: Future in Motion exposition from 25 to 27 November, including SMU Professor Emeritus of Finance (Practice) Annie Koh. The event would be held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Sharing his insights on China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian opined that high-quality development oriented toward people’s well-being and quality of life means that China’s economy will no longer be measured solely by GDP growth rates.
Commenting on the expansion of Chinese companies in Southeast Asia, SMU Associate Professor of Strategic Management and Academic Director of SMU's Master of Science in Management programme Geng Xuesong said that Singapore’s infrastructure and talent base make it an ideal headquarters hub. He noted that firms such as Shanghai’s Joy Group, which opened its first overseas stores here, view Singapore as a gateway to markets like Thailand and Malaysia, reflecting growing regional ambitions.
Sharing his insights on China and the US trade talks, SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian said that the countries have room for compromise to create a friendlier atmosphere for the upcoming summit while they remain cautious on key issues like rare earths and technology restrictions. He added that China would also not rush to sign an agreement similar to the “Phase One Trade Deal” in the short term, unless the US makes major concessions and lifts all restrictions.
Commenting on China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which will prioritise economic development and high-quality growth, SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian said high-quality development means China’s economy will no longer rely solely on GDP growth as the measure of success. He added that more emphasis would be placed on citizens’ satisfaction and other indicators as the guiding benchmarks in the future.
Commenting on Hong Leong's green loan, SMU Associate Professor of Finance Liang Hao said that two things can be true at once: A building can meet strong energy or green building criteria, as required on Government Land Sales sites under the BCA's 2021 green building certification scheme, and still cause some degree of nature loss if it requires land-clearance. He suggested that a sustainability-linked loan over a green label could be preferred to avoid perceptions of greenwashing and communicate why.
In a commentary, SMU Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources (Education) Thomas Menkhoff and SMU Adjunct Lecturer Kevin Cheong highlighted the concept of “coopetition”, a mix of cooperation and competition, from Germany’s Stuttgart region. During a study trip, SMU students and faculty saw how this model fuels collaboration in fields like artificial intelligence (AI), and sustainability.
Commenting on banks having more control over customers’ accounts, SMU Associate Professor of Finance (Education) Mandy Tham said that the moves should not be viewed as paternalistic but more as a cultural shift towards prevention rather than reaction in financial regulation. She added that this was understandable given how digital risks associated with managing their wealth have risen.
