By recruiting foreign talent, Singapore is pursuing a policy that is likely to lead to a “win-win” situation, and not a “zero-sum” outcome. While professionals and skilled workers from other lands benefit from the city-state's sound institutions and environment which can help them fulfil their aspirations, the host country can also substantially benefit from the arrival of these talented people. In fact, the government's policy has been formulated in the interest of the country.
The overall interests of Singapore can be likened to a big cake. The foreign talent help to make the cake even bigger by enhancing the city-state's competitiveness and increasing the well-being of all the people. Therefore, each Singaporean can have a slice of the cake which is larger than it would have been.
On the other hand, if these foreigners are prevented from coming to Singapore, then the size of the cake which is supposed to bring benefits to everyone will shrink. Although it will then be shared by fewer people, each slice will be smaller.
There are worries that the newcomers will rob the locals of their jobs and make the competition tougher. In reality, the new arrivals will bring more jobs to the country by raising its general competitiveness. In the final analysis, it is Singaporeans who will stand to benefit.
Besides, would the locals be sheltered from competition if these foreigners did not come to Singapore？ No. They would still face the contention from the same competitors, only that the competition will be coming from outside the country.
As pointed out by Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew as early as 1989, well-trained and talented people are sought after by all countries. As every country is striving for a knowledge-based economy, the rivalry to win over people with expertise and skills has been intensifying. To stay on top of the increasingly keen competition, Singaporeans must be broad-minded enough to accept talent from all lands so as to possess sufficient human resources it needs.
Moreover, foreign personnel will help upgrade their local counterparts. Researchers and scholars recruited from abroad will share the fruits of their learning and intellectual pursuits with others in the host country. Athletes recruited from China have not only won gold medals on behalf of Singapore but will, in the long run, also help raise the standard of sports among Singaporeans. Just look at the Italian soccer team playing in the league matches. Many foreign footballers are playing for Italy while the country's performance in soccer ranks among the best in the world.
In fact, being a society of immigrants, the growth of Singapore has been inseparable from the contributions of numerous talented people from abroad. Can anybody imagine how Singapore would develop without the participation of talented foreigners？
The city-state should be as open as Chang'an, the capital of China in the Tang Dynasty （A.D. 618-907） when the land attracted and accommodated various competent people from all corners of the world. Singaporeans should be more mature in their attitude towards foreign talent, for only in this way can there be mutual benefit for both parties. Fortunately, many Singaporeans are not “kiasu”； they are full of confidence and are fully prepared to compete with the new arrivals on an equal footing. They are ready to exchange their knowlegde and skills for mutual progress.
A bigger cake, or a smaller one？ Sensible Singaporeans are sure to make the right choice.
（Translated by Allen Zhuang）
大餅與小餅
新加坡實行引進(jìn)外來人才的政策可說是一種“雙贏”策略,而不是一場“零和”游戲。外來人才固然可得益于新加坡良好的制度和環(huán)境而有更好的發(fā)展前景,新加坡本身也因外來人才的到來而獲益匪淺。事實上,政府制定吸引外來人才的政策正是基于新加坡自身利益的考慮。
我們可以把新加坡的整體利益比作一塊大餅。外來人才的到來,增加了新加坡的整體競爭力,提高了整體新加坡人的福利,使得利益的大餅變得更大,從而每個新加坡人都能分到比原來更多的份額。抵制外來人才的結(jié)果卻使整體利益的大餅變小,雖然分的人少了,每個人能分到的份額卻比原來的小了。
有的人擔(dān)憂外來人才的到來會剝奪本地人的就業(yè)機(jī)會,增加競爭。實際上,整體競爭力的提高會為新加坡帶來更多的就業(yè)機(jī)會,最終獲利的還是新加坡人。另外,如果這些人才不到新加坡來,本地人就沒有競爭了嗎？其實,那將使這些人才從外部來和新加坡競爭。
正如李光耀資政1989年就指出,受過訓(xùn)練和有才華的專才是各國爭取的目標(biāo)。現(xiàn)在各國都提倡發(fā)展知識經(jīng)濟(jì),人才的競爭更趨激烈。
新加坡一定要有廣納天下賢才的氣度,才能掌握足夠的人才資源,在激烈的競爭中立于不敗之地。
另外,人才的引進(jìn)還具有積極的外部效果。當(dāng)引進(jìn)外國的研究人員和學(xué)者時,他們的研究成果和知識就在當(dāng)?shù)貍鞑?。?dāng)引進(jìn)中國的運動員的時候,他們不僅為新加坡奪得了幾面金牌,從長遠(yuǎn)看,他們將會對本地的運動員和觀眾起交流和帶動的作用,提高本地人的運動水平。君不見意大利的足球甲級聯(lián)賽有多少外籍球員上陣,而意大利的足球水平同時也是世界的。
實際上,新加坡原本就是由世界各地的移民組成的社會。它的發(fā)展根本就離不開許許多外來人才的貢獻(xiàn)。你能想象一個沒有外來人才的新加坡嗎？新加坡應(yīng)該學(xué)習(xí)唐代中國長安的氣度,開闊自己的胸襟,吸引、容納天下各類人才來這里發(fā)展。新加坡人應(yīng)該培養(yǎng)對待外來人才的成熟心態(tài)——你好,我也好。我們也看到許多有志的新加坡人不怕輸,勇于在平等的條件下和外來的人才展開競爭,共同交流進(jìn)步。
要大的餅還是要小的餅？理智的新加坡人一定會作出正確的選擇。
The overall interests of Singapore can be likened to a big cake. The foreign talent help to make the cake even bigger by enhancing the city-state's competitiveness and increasing the well-being of all the people. Therefore, each Singaporean can have a slice of the cake which is larger than it would have been.
On the other hand, if these foreigners are prevented from coming to Singapore, then the size of the cake which is supposed to bring benefits to everyone will shrink. Although it will then be shared by fewer people, each slice will be smaller.
There are worries that the newcomers will rob the locals of their jobs and make the competition tougher. In reality, the new arrivals will bring more jobs to the country by raising its general competitiveness. In the final analysis, it is Singaporeans who will stand to benefit.
Besides, would the locals be sheltered from competition if these foreigners did not come to Singapore？ No. They would still face the contention from the same competitors, only that the competition will be coming from outside the country.
As pointed out by Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew as early as 1989, well-trained and talented people are sought after by all countries. As every country is striving for a knowledge-based economy, the rivalry to win over people with expertise and skills has been intensifying. To stay on top of the increasingly keen competition, Singaporeans must be broad-minded enough to accept talent from all lands so as to possess sufficient human resources it needs.
Moreover, foreign personnel will help upgrade their local counterparts. Researchers and scholars recruited from abroad will share the fruits of their learning and intellectual pursuits with others in the host country. Athletes recruited from China have not only won gold medals on behalf of Singapore but will, in the long run, also help raise the standard of sports among Singaporeans. Just look at the Italian soccer team playing in the league matches. Many foreign footballers are playing for Italy while the country's performance in soccer ranks among the best in the world.
In fact, being a society of immigrants, the growth of Singapore has been inseparable from the contributions of numerous talented people from abroad. Can anybody imagine how Singapore would develop without the participation of talented foreigners？
The city-state should be as open as Chang'an, the capital of China in the Tang Dynasty （A.D. 618-907） when the land attracted and accommodated various competent people from all corners of the world. Singaporeans should be more mature in their attitude towards foreign talent, for only in this way can there be mutual benefit for both parties. Fortunately, many Singaporeans are not “kiasu”； they are full of confidence and are fully prepared to compete with the new arrivals on an equal footing. They are ready to exchange their knowlegde and skills for mutual progress.
A bigger cake, or a smaller one？ Sensible Singaporeans are sure to make the right choice.
（Translated by Allen Zhuang）
大餅與小餅
新加坡實行引進(jìn)外來人才的政策可說是一種“雙贏”策略,而不是一場“零和”游戲。外來人才固然可得益于新加坡良好的制度和環(huán)境而有更好的發(fā)展前景,新加坡本身也因外來人才的到來而獲益匪淺。事實上,政府制定吸引外來人才的政策正是基于新加坡自身利益的考慮。
我們可以把新加坡的整體利益比作一塊大餅。外來人才的到來,增加了新加坡的整體競爭力,提高了整體新加坡人的福利,使得利益的大餅變得更大,從而每個新加坡人都能分到比原來更多的份額。抵制外來人才的結(jié)果卻使整體利益的大餅變小,雖然分的人少了,每個人能分到的份額卻比原來的小了。
有的人擔(dān)憂外來人才的到來會剝奪本地人的就業(yè)機(jī)會,增加競爭。實際上,整體競爭力的提高會為新加坡帶來更多的就業(yè)機(jī)會,最終獲利的還是新加坡人。另外,如果這些人才不到新加坡來,本地人就沒有競爭了嗎？其實,那將使這些人才從外部來和新加坡競爭。
正如李光耀資政1989年就指出,受過訓(xùn)練和有才華的專才是各國爭取的目標(biāo)。現(xiàn)在各國都提倡發(fā)展知識經(jīng)濟(jì),人才的競爭更趨激烈。
新加坡一定要有廣納天下賢才的氣度,才能掌握足夠的人才資源,在激烈的競爭中立于不敗之地。
另外,人才的引進(jìn)還具有積極的外部效果。當(dāng)引進(jìn)外國的研究人員和學(xué)者時,他們的研究成果和知識就在當(dāng)?shù)貍鞑?。?dāng)引進(jìn)中國的運動員的時候,他們不僅為新加坡奪得了幾面金牌,從長遠(yuǎn)看,他們將會對本地的運動員和觀眾起交流和帶動的作用,提高本地人的運動水平。君不見意大利的足球甲級聯(lián)賽有多少外籍球員上陣,而意大利的足球水平同時也是世界的。
實際上,新加坡原本就是由世界各地的移民組成的社會。它的發(fā)展根本就離不開許許多外來人才的貢獻(xiàn)。你能想象一個沒有外來人才的新加坡嗎？新加坡應(yīng)該學(xué)習(xí)唐代中國長安的氣度,開闊自己的胸襟,吸引、容納天下各類人才來這里發(fā)展。新加坡人應(yīng)該培養(yǎng)對待外來人才的成熟心態(tài)——你好,我也好。我們也看到許多有志的新加坡人不怕輸,勇于在平等的條件下和外來的人才展開競爭,共同交流進(jìn)步。
要大的餅還是要小的餅？理智的新加坡人一定會作出正確的選擇。