Impact on heartland shops if CDC vouchers end?

Why use 'emergency' vouchers in recovery?

Exiting the policy of handing out CDC vouchers

Clara: CDC digital infrastructure is ready now

Singapore is redefining the welfare state now

Government support measures such as CDC vouchers were meant to cushion soaring inflation. But are they fiscally sustainable? 

Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Temporary government handouts like the CDC vouchers were meant to cushion the impact of Covid-19 and soaring inflation due to supply shocks that were caused by global events like the war in Ukraine. 

But with inflation cooling to trend levels, can Singaporeans wean off the ‘free money’ reliance from CDC vouchers that were meant to be temporary? 

In this episode - which comes out a day ahead of Budget 2026 - ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong speaks to independent economist Song Seng Wun; and sociologist Clara Lee, senior research fellow at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy’s Institute of Policy Studies. 

Apart from how the CDC voucher scheme has since become a staple of the government’s support package, they delve into different forms of welfare Singaporeans now receive, and the impact on small businesses should the scheme be withdrawn. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:11 Impact on heartland merchants should CDC vouchers be withdrawn 

9:42 Why are we using 'emergency' vouchers in a recovering economy?

15:49 Exiting from the policy of handing out CDC vouchers

20:43 Digital infrastructure to distribute CDC vouchers are now well-established: Clara

22:45 Redefining welfare state?

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Host: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg) 

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast 

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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#inyouropinion

 

Government support measures such as CDC vouchers were meant to cushion soaring inflation. But are they fiscally sustainable?&nbsp;
Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. Temporary government handouts like the CDC vouchers were meant to cushion the impact of Covid-19 and soaring inflation due to supply shocks that were caused by global events like the war in Ukraine. But with inflation cooling to trend levels, can Singaporeans wean off the &lsquo;free money&rsquo; reliance from CDC vouchers that were meant to be temporary?&nbsp;
In this episode - which comes out a day ahead of Budget 2026 -&nbsp;ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong speaks to independent economist Song Seng Wun; and sociologist Clara Lee, senior research fellow at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy&rsquo;s Institute of Policy Studies.&nbsp; Apart from how the CDC voucher scheme has since become a staple of the government&rsquo;s support package, they delve into different forms of welfare Singaporeans now receive, and the impact on small businesses should the scheme be withdrawn.&nbsp;
Highlights (click/tap above):
4:11 Impact on heartland merchants should CDC vouchers be withdrawn&nbsp;
9:42 Why are we using 'emergency' vouchers in a recovering economy?
15:49 Exiting from the policy of handing out CDC vouchers
20:43 Digital infrastructure to distribute CDC vouchers are now well-established: Clara
22:45 Redefining welfare state?
Read ST&rsquo;s Opinion section:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sH"> https://str.sg/w7sH</a>
Host: Lynda Hong (<a href="mailto:lyndahong@sph.com.sg">lyndahong@sph.com.sg</a>)&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt"> https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb"> https://str.sg/wukb</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV"> https://str.sg/w7sV</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg/" data-stringify-link="https://www.awedio.sg" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-stringify-link="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-sk="tooltip_parent">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast</a>&nbsp;
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#inyouropinion
&nbsp;

A hard look at the social issues of the month in Singapore. Join ST journalists and other guests as they discuss with Lydia Wong.

Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.