Air-con a need or a want? Evolving expectations require fine-tuning of social support

Meteorologists have forecast hotter weather for Singapore in 2024 due to the lingering effects of a climate phenomenon known as El Nino. To beat Singapore’s sweltering heat, having air-conditioning at home is often debated as a luxury or a necessity. Based on a recent study aimed at identifying the needs seen as essential for a normal standard of living in Singapore, 63.6 percent of Singapore residents perceive air-conditioning as an essential need.

Complementing the study was a survey conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies under the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (NUS LKYSPP). The survey shed light on whom the public felt should provide for each of these needs – whether it was the Government, the community, the individuals themselves, their relatives or friends. Associate Professor Terence Ho from NUS LKYSPP shared that the insights from the survey provided ideas on how there is a need to emphasise flexibility and customisation in social support. Assoc Prof Ho elaborated that involving community efforts and private donors can help to provide systematic and predictable support to meet essential needs, complementing rather than replacing government aid to make a collective difference.

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