SMU Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship Chen Liang observed that younger consumers, once passive in the digital economy, are now actively resisting algorithmic manipulation. While consumer pushback may reflect distrust in the market and potentially reduce consumption, Assoc Prof Chen highlighted that platforms will continually optimise their algorithms, creating an ongoing "arms race" between consumers and platforms. This could hinder the healthy development of data applications.
SMU Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship Daphne Yiu and other academics co-authored a study to examine why some companies weather trade wars better than others. Analysing U.S.-China business transactions during the 2018 trade war, the study found that innovative and socially responsible Chinese suppliers retained more U.S. buyers, while those with strong political ties suffered greater losses. To boost resilience, companies should prioritise innovation, enhance corporate social responsibility efforts, and minimise political entanglements.
China's 2025 local economic growth targets were unveiled this week, with Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong setting targets at approximately 5%. Other provinces have generally set lower goals compared to last year. SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian noted that most regions are likely to meet their 2024 targets, making China's overall 5% growth target achievable. However, for 2025, despite the central government's focus on stimulating the economy and expanding domestic demand, local governments have adopted more conservative targets.
The Workplace Fairness Bill has been recently passed in Parliament, marking a major milestone in Singapore's employment landscape. Aimed at tackling workplace discrimination, the bill protects employees from biases based on factors such as age, race and nationality. In an interview, Paul Lim, SMU Senior Lecturer of Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources and Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, shared insights into the bill's implications for organisations and employees alike.
Commenting on the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) payment method for online transactions in Singapore, SMU Assistant Professor of Finance (Education) Aurobindo Ghosh said higher interest rates over the past couple of years added to the costs borne by BNPL firms, as they absorb these rates using their revenue and bear the risk of non-payment by clients. This squeezes their profit margins. He pointed out that demand remains strong and said, "this is a supply-driven issue rather than a demand-driven one.
Commenting on the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) payment method for online transactions in Singapore, SMU Assistant Professor of Finance (Education) Aurobindo Ghosh said higher interest rates over the past couple of years added to the costs borne by BNPL firms, as they absorb these rates using their revenue and bear the risk of non-payment by clients. This squeezes their profit margins. He pointed out that demand remains strong and said, "this is a supply-driven issue rather than a demand-driven one.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) plans to develop a new system to comprehensively monitor local road conditions, predict potential issues, and formulate maintenance plans and budgets. For drivers, this initiative will lead to smoother and safer journeys while minimising inconvenience caused by road maintenance. Commenting on the Pavement Performance Index, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategic Management Terence Fan noted that Singapore's roads have unique characteristics.
Commenting on China's economic progress, SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian analysed that, according to the published data, China’s economy remains relatively sluggish. Although it has not fallen into a recession, domestic consumer demand continues to be weak. He believes that the stimulus policies released by the Chinese government at the end of last year are a positive signal. However, these measures are expected to take effect only in the first quarter of this year.
In an interview, SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan commented on the record-high certificate of entitlement (COE) premiums for big cars, which reached $120,000 in the first bidding exercise of 2025. He attributed the surge to factors such as lower interest rates and analysed the broader dynamics influencing market demand and supply. Asst Prof Fan also weighed in on whether this price spike is a one-off anomaly or an indicator of future pricing trends.
Commenting on online retail sales peaking in 2021 during the pandemic but trending down, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing Hannah Chang said that while local e-commerce players gained customers due to the pandemic, the question is how they can attract more, now that consumers can shop either online or offline.
