Loo-Lee Sim

Singapore's Internet shoppers and their impact on traditional shopping patterns

This study examines the demographic and psycho-graphic characteristics of Internet shoppers, the present Internet users’ habits and attitude and the attitude of those who have made actual purchases via Internet before. It also attempts to give an indication of the impact on traditional shopping patterns. The data is obtained by conducting surveys on local consumers. Hypotheses were formulated and tested using statistical techniques like Pearson Correlation, Factor Analysis, Reliability Test, Independent Sample t-Test, Cross Tabulation and Chi-Square. The study found that Internet buyers and non-Internet buyers have some distinctive demographic and psychographic profiles. The findings also suggest that e-commerce does not have a significant impact on traditional shopping patterns due primarily to Singaporeans’ preference for real life shopping. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The magnetism of suburban shopping centers: do size and Cineplex matter?

Purpose – This paper aims to address two questions related to the magnetism or drawing power of suburban malls: first, does physical size matter, and second, what is the externalities effect of housing a Cineplex within a shopping center?Design/methodology/approach – The study was carried out through an extensive survey covering 1,283 shoppers in nine selected suburban shopping centers in Singapore. The effects of physical size and the presence of Cineplex on the magnetism on the selected suburban shopping centers are evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. Their effect on shopping duration and expenditure pattern is also empirically tested using a recursive simultaneous equations model.Findings – The survey results affirm that both physical size and the presence of a Cineplex enhance the magnetism of suburban shopping centers. A larger shopping center can facilitate a greater variety of shops and create a more pleasant environment for the shoppers, thus enticing shoppers to visit and stay lon...

Singapore’s competitiveness as a global city: development strategy, institutions and business environment

Abstract With globalization, cities are facing increasing competitions as centers for activities and nodes for multi-national corporations. As a result, cities have to ensure that their institutional structures cater to the rising demand from such corporations. There is an increasing need for institutional thickness and free market systems. In the past four decades, Singapore, an investment driven city, has provided businesses with a secure and efficient business environment. Through semi-structured interviews with senior policy makers and private experts, this research identifies the institutional framework in Singapore and how this set up interacts with and influences the business environment and city development. However, the need to elevate itself into a knowledge based economy requires a more nimble and fluid relationship between the institutions and the businesses.

Public housing and ethnic integration in Singapore

Abstract Prior to 1960, various immigrant ethnic groups were concentrated in different parts of Singapore, forming enclaves. The immigrant population was thus spatially segregated, with different ethnic concentrations in different parts of the island. Since 1960, the Singapore Government has used public housing as a policy instrument to integrate the multi-ethnic population spatially. This paper examines the implementation of this policy over the past four decades and evaluates its success. Using geographic information system technology, the ethnic composition of public housing estates can be traced on maps. The spatial distribution of the main races is shown at constituency level (i.e., division) but discussion includes the individual block level. The findings show that public housing has succeeded in reducing the intensity of the ethnic enclaves while increasing social integration.

Integrating land use and transport planning to reduce work-related travel:: a case study of Tampines Regional Centre in Singapore

Abstract Singapore has been successful in alleviating severe traffic congestion due to its comprehensive and highly coordinated land transport policy, which combines integrated land use and transport planning, and demand management measures. Many studies have been carried out on its demand management instruments but not much is known about the integration of land use and transport planning. Tampines Regional Centre provides a good case study to illustrate this aspect. This paper assesses whether the regional centre has been successful as an alternative employment centre to the CBD and has helped to reduce work-travel. Findings from surveys on the employment and work-travel patterns of residents in the East Region, and employees and employers in Tampines Regional Centre provide some empirical evidence to show that there is great potential in reducing work-travel and reliance on the car so as to alleviate traffic congestion by decentralising commercial activities from the CBD of Singapore to the regional centres.

Property rights, collective sales and government intervention: averting a tragedy of the anticommons

Abstract In response to the need to cater for the requirements of a larger future population, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore released development guide plans, which have provided for higher development intensity to residential land in various parts of the island. One of the impacts is that many property owners in Singapore have banded together to capitalize on the “marriage value” of the en bloc site to reap big windfalls as compared to individual sales. But there were minority owners who objected to the sale. The Land Titles (Strata) (Amendment) Act 1999 was passed on 11 October 1999 to facilitate such en bloc sales as these will release prime land for higher density redevelopment to provide more quality private housing in land-scarce Singapore. This paper shows how property rights and property ownership could have led to a tragedy of the anticommons and how government intervention through legislation has averted such a tragedy. Whilst the Land Titles (Strata) (Amendment) Act 1999 has been successful in facilitating en bloc sales resulting in optimization of scarce land resources, it has raised controversial issues such as majority rule versus minority protection and the attenuation of property rights. The authors conclude that in land-scarce Singapore, public good, in that more land will be made available for private housing for the majority, should take precedence.

PLANNING FOR A MORE BALANCED HOME-WORK RELATIONSHIP: THE CASE STUDY OF SINGAPORE

Abstract This report summarizes the results of a recent study undertaken in Singapore on the attitudes of both firms and commuters with regard to the issue of decentralisation away from the central city. The study found that in a relatively compact urban area with high standards of public transportation, consumer preferences were complex and were often manifested in a desire to maintain home–work separation. Corporate attitudes were often complicated, throwing into question simple assumptions about economic decentralisation in the contemporary city.

Market-led policy measures for urban redevelopment in Singapore

Abstract This paper analyses the effectiveness and impacts of two market-led policy measures for stimulating private housing redevelopment in Singapore. The first measure accorded betterment potential to sub-optimally used land through density incentives. Subsequently, enabling legislation was enacted to facilitate site amalgamation. Using data from 1994 to 2000, the measures successfully induced the supply of privately owned land and site assembly through en bloc sales. However, the urban intensification strategies have resulted in unintended and adverse consequences such as infrastructural pressure, loss of environmental character and accelerated economic obsolescence. Moreover, policy delivery that relies on private sector capital is highly dependent on market conditions.

Place Remaking under Property Rights Regimes: A Case Study of Niucheshui, Singapore

From the perspective of institutional analysis, this paper evaluates the place-remaking process of Niucheshui in Singapore. It is found that the redevelopment of Niucheshui since the 1960s has been substantively shaped by the property rights regime over land and buildings. As property rights are defined by the state in the forms of statutory land-use planning, compulsory land acquisition, rent control, land leasing, and conservation of historical buildings, the free market for land redevelopment is reined in heavily by the state. The built form of Niucheshui before 1960 was by and large the product of many private individuals and communities initiatives. Those players have faded from the scene since the 1960s, and the redevelopment of Niucheshui is the result of interactions between the state and market forces, though public participation is practised in the land-use planning process. In view of the urban land market behaving and performing within a framework defined by institutions, and property rights being one of the most important institutions, we argue that, not warranted by rhetoric public participation, pluralism and diversity in the built environment are protected by a diverse structure of land property rights which should be incorporated into the place-remaking process.