In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) and Academic Director of SMU’s Business Families Institute Kenneth Goh, reflected on a former student who built a successful e-commerce business while studying, using his story to challenge Singapore’s “linear progression fallacy”. He argued that the education system reinforces this narrow view and stressed the need to value adaptability, experimentation, and creativity over rigid achievement.
Commenting on the latest fare hike, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said the fare hike amounts to under $5 a week for regular commuters, with heavy users benefiting from a reduced monthly travel card. Asst Prof Fan explained that the 5% increase, based on multiple cost factors, reflects only part of the allowable adjustment and is a “gentle way” to manage rising expenses. He added that other transport modes have already raised fares during peak hours.
SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian attributed the increase in stores that accept cashless-only transactions to the success of the Government’s go-digital campaign, which has made it easier and cheaper for merchants to go cashless. He added that merchants now have more affordable plug-and-play options, and promotional incentives further encourage the adoption of cashless transactions. Assoc Prof Fu also noted that cashless transactions discourage theft and minimise human error.
Commenting on the 5 per cent transport fare hike, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said that the fare increase is "measured and considerate", noting that the actual increase is well below the ceiling. Asst Prof Fan emphasised that the price of monthly travel passes will be reduced by six dollars, which will actually translate into a small reduction in commuters’ monthly expenses. He also shared that as the public transport network grows, service disruptions may appear more frequent.
China, Iran, and Russia are expanding barter trade to circumvent European and US sanctions. SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian noted that bartering is inefficient and unsustainable but reflects growing efforts to bypass dollar settlements, further fragmenting global trade. He added that if such alternatives become widespread, they could eventually undermine the US dollar’s dominance and lead to financial decoupling from the US-led system.
Commenting on title inflation, SMU Senior Lecturer of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources Paul Lim opined that it is not always a bad thing if workers approach it strategically. He noted that the key is living up to the title, where those who do so prove themselves, while those who abuse it risk being exposed as posers or inept.
Commenting on how gender plays a role in securing funds, SMU Associate Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Kenneth Goh said that while women bring a broader set of legitimate motivations to entrepreneurship, the potential consequence is that they may "unintentionally reinforce societal biases that cast doubts on women’s entrepreneurial abilities". He said that these biases could create barriers to accessing capital, business networks, and other resources that enhance early growth.
In an interview with Money FM, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said the continued use of private-hire vehicles for cross-border travel persists because of their convenience, despite being illegal. He noted that while these services pose safety risks, strict enforcement could hurt drivers reliant on such trips and push operations underground.
In a commentary, SMU Professor of Marketing (Practice) Sabine Benoit examined society’s fascination with celebrity engagement rings, noting that oversized diamonds serve as symbols of love, status, and branding, but risk distorting expectations by equating “big love” with “big rings.” In contrast, Prof Benoit highlighted Taylor Swift’s more modest choice and other engagements focused on personal meaning, such as heirloom rings or simple gestures, to emphasise that true love is better expressed through daily acts of care and sincerity rather than extravagant displays.
Singapore’s manufacturing output rose in September 2025 despite US tariffs on pharmaceuticals. SMU Lee Kong Chian Professor of Operations Management Shantanu Bhattacharya said that Asia will continue to have an edge in active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, which is not cost-effective in the US. Prof Bhattacharya attributed this to labour cost, which is much higher in the US compared to Asia.
