Singapore, punching above its weight

Professor of Information Systems and Director of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at SMU, Arcot Desai Narasimhalu said that "Singapore's transition was no accident" and that “It was carefully planned and designed. It was a realisation by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew that Singapore's future was in having a knowledge economy and focusing on technology – high-end technology." He added that Singapore's small population has been an advantage in its development. "Because it does not have a large domestic market, Singapore has had to think beyond its own borders for markets," he said. "It simply could not afford to hang on to low-end manufacturing and maintain a workforce with low skills."