Macroeconomics research in Singapore

1. Describe the structure of the economy and the main sources of the country's wealth. (What industries does it have, what agriculture, raw materials, minerals. What are its key imports and exports? How big is the public sector?) 2. What is the state of its balance of trade (exports relative to imports)? What is its position in terms of financial flows? Is it a net capital exporter or importer? Is there deficit or surplus on either trade or financial accounts? What is the overall balance (adding them) Is the country accumulating debt or surplus over time? 3. Where does the country stand in key indices, compared to others? 4. What are its main national indicators – GDP, GDP per capita, and health states, education, debt, productivity, population, growth, measures of inequality, well being, etc. 5. What is its macroeconomic state? In recession, growing fast etc? And main macroeconomic/fluctuation indictors—like inflation and unemployment—but also output and income and investment growth (or lack of it). What is the state of government finances? What is the situation of its currency (is the exchange rate stable or volatile, rising or falling, is this helping or hindering the economy)? 6. What are the key features of its recent development—using all or some of these indicators to tell the story of its recent experience?