articles catalogue

Building an (Un)anxious Generation

The move from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood has led to the rise in anxiety across the world. Social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt made this case in his 2024 book “The Anxious Generation”. Drawing from his findings, our research and policy lead Daniel Lim spoke at The Helping Hand “Ride and Run to Restore” on 18 April 2026, on the topic “Building an (Un)anxious Generation”. Here is an edited extract from the talk.

How Delayed Marriage and Parenthood Result in Sandwiched Families

Three Generation Asian Family
Singaporeans are marrying later and having children later. Demographically, this increases the risk of acute sandwiched family struggles, especially with two or more generations of delayed marriage and parenthood. While it is important to support families in such situations, it is also important to encourage earlier marriage and parenthood planning. A version of this article was presented at our Commune on 16 May.

“Achievement-orientated Values” (Part 2 of 2): How this 1971 speech suggests solutions to fertility rates today

Inche Sha'ari Bin Tadin 2
The 1971 speech by Parliamentary Secretary Inche Sha’ari Bin Tadin captured the heart and motivation of Singapore’s population control campaign. To pursue achievement and a high standard of living, “adaptations” had to be made to family life and childbearing, education and our value systems. To improve our fertility rates, we should perhaps do the opposite what he was calling for at the time.

“Achievement-orientated Values” (Part 1 of 2): This 1971 speech explains why our fertility rates are so low (and hints at how we can raise it) 

Achievement-oriented Values in 1971 speech
Singapore’s total fertility rate hit a new record low at 0.87 in 2025, a long consequence of the overwhelming success of the “Stop at Two” population control campaign launched in 1972. Just a year prior, Parliamentary Secretary Inche Sha’ari Bin Tadin gave a speech capturing the heart and motivation of the campaign. Could this speech also contain hints of how we can reverse our low birth rates?

More For You

Singapore Attitudes Conservatism Liberalism

Liberal, Conservative, Or…? (Part 2 of 2): Where do Singaporeans stand? 

In this second article of our two-part series on liberalism and conservatism, we look more closely at where Singaporeans stand. Attitudes seem to vary across topics such as economics, COVID-19, marriage and sex. In the end, it might really depend on the issue and circumstances that one is looking at, and a nuanced understanding is necessary.
Cultivate SG Article Concepts Liberalism Conservatism

Liberal, Conservative, Or…? (Part 1 of 2): A look at concepts 

This is the first of a two-part series on liberalism and conservatism. In this first article, we tap on the analysis of some experts to help unpack the concepts of liberalism and conservatism. While liberal traditions generally endorse the idea that people should be free to do what they want as long as they do not harm others, conservative traditions are broadly inclined towards stability.

Why Family Matters to Every Individual, and to Society

“[Family] is a social institution… When that is broken, everyone suffers.” Cultivate SG executive director Darius Lee spoke at the Men's FoRM II Conference on 1 November 2025, on the "State of the Family". Here is an edited extract from the speech at the conference, about why family matters to individuals and society.

What we are reading

Articles here are for perspective and may not represent our views