Singapore: a Global City

Global cities have become increasingly more popular over the past several years. They serve as busy sites of trade, steady workplaces, and overall international hubs. One must consider all aspects of a city’s well-being when deciding what type of urban area fits into this specific category. With a GDP of $2.8 billion and 100% urban development, Singapore is a city that is impossible to leave out on the list of what constitutes a metropolis.[i] The time they spent under British rule is what initially prompted the urbanization that led to the economic miracle we see today. They eventually became independent, and the government took extraordinary measures to ensure proper economic growth and modernization of their new city-state. This ultimately led to incredible manufacturing investments that heightened industrialization and attracted many foreign investors. Today, the high caliber of the society is reflected on its population by the demanding education and harsh laws. Singapore’s economic potential was introduced to the world while under British rule, however, it was not until after independence that its economic strategies, foreign relations and management of human resources proved it to be a world-class city.
The United Kingdom’s use of Singapore as an entrepôt and their permission to allow Singapore to be mostly self-governed served as the fundamental building block to its rapid urbanization. In the 1800s, Singapore was one of the most popular entrepôts, which means it was a trading post in which materials could be imported and exported without taxes. This made it very attractive to merchants all around the world due to its “free-port status”[ii] and “strategic location.”[iii] Exporters who had been paying high taxes in Dutch-controlled ports began trading in Singapore instead for these reasons. Additionally, in 1896, “the opening of the Suez Canal . . . attracted even heavier traffic from Europe”[iv], and rapid commercial development allowed the city