Over the four decades of its existence, Singapore's Central Provident Fund (CPF) has evolved from a simple savings-withdrawal retirement plan into a complex scheme which reaches beyond mere social security provision to cater for the medical, educational and investment needs of the nation. The CPF has played a significant role in the economic and socio-political aspects of nation-building in Singapore; as an institution, it is intimately interwoven in the lives of ordinary Singaporeans and lies at the heart of the nation's socio-political architecture. This book presents a systematic account of the various developments in the Fund's history and is a notable addition to the existing body of research on the CPF. It examines the various schemes in detail and assesses the impact on and implications of the Fund for Singapore's social security, socio-politics and macroeconomics. The book also offers a comparative analysis of the social security measures found in a variety of economies. This present study is particularly timely, considering the keen interest in the Fund expressed by governments the world over in recent years, who are keen to explore the possibility of adopting a similar system in their own countries.
