Life should get better for the next generation. Why doesn’t it feel that way?

Inspired by a conversation with my dad.

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When I was 14, my father introduced a concept that has stuck with me for a long time.

“Each generation is supposed to do better than the last. I did better than your yeye, so I expect you to do better than me.

Yeye didn’t own a car. 

Today, I own a Toyota. 

In the future, if you do well for yourself, you should own a Mercedes.”

Since that day, I’ve heard this thought expressed by many others. The concept here is generational progress. 

Here’s the idea: each generation builds upon what the previous one has built. By this logic, they should enjoy better lives. And I’m supposed to live longer, be healthier, wealthier and happier than my parents. 

Almost two decades later, I can say for sure that the concept sounds good on paper, but isn’t so straightforward. 

Don’t get me wrong – life has gotten better in many ways

If we’re talking easily measurable metrics like GDP per capita and life expectancy, I think it’s hard to argue that we are worse off than our parents. 

Technology has also advanced and we’ve gained convenience and comfort. We enjoy services that our parents could never have imagined; e-commerce, delivery and ride-hailing apps. Air-conditioned public transport. 

Even flights to previously exotic locations have come down due to developments in air travel and new business models. 

Case in point: My parents went to Lake Toba in Medan for their honeymoon; that’s like a weekend getaway by millennial standards. These days, Singaporeans are going to more far-off and expensive destinations.

That said, it’s normal to feel like our generation has not progressed as much. Here’s why. 

The rate of ‘progress’ has slowed 

Let’s say you’ve been running to keep fit. 

In the first week, you could barely manage 1 km. But by the end of nine weeks, you manage to run 5 km quite comfortably. By the end of the year, you complete your first marathon. 

This feeling of making quick progress feels magical and empowering. But something happens from this point; you plateau. Your timings and distances no longer improve at such a dramatic rate anymore. 

You’re a better runner than a year ago. But the lack of dramatic improvement disappoints you. You become dissatisfied. Feel stagnant. You might need to find new reasons to keep running. 

In many ways, Singapore (and many developed countries) are like that. Wage growth and economic growth have most certainly slowed down since our parent’s time. Median household income in Singapore in 1980 was $990. It was $10,099 in 2022. It’s unlikely we will see such rates of income growth again. 

Yes, we live in an objectively amazing place compared to the rest of the world. But it’s also normal and valid to feel ‘meh’ about things when you feel like you’re not progressing as fast. 

Further reading: The Hedonic Treadmill

Not everyone has progressed at the same rate

As we’ve covered in a previous article, inequality has both reduced and increased in the past decades. Generally, inequality within countries has increased, but among countries, it has decreased.  Progress has not been homogeneous. 

What happened? Well, technology, globalisation and changing consumer behaviours have produced both big winners and losers.

By now, the winners need no introduction. On the other end are: rank-and-file manufacturing, retail workers, certain customer service roles. 

It’s important to realise that segments of society don’t progress at the same rate – uniform generational progress rarely happens. 

We might have become richer, but it’s all relative

Singaporeans are generally materially better off than we used to be. But you probably don’t feel it thanks to relative deprivation. 

Why? For starters, we spend most of our time within Singapore, so the basis of comparison is just based on Singaporeans. It’s hard to feel grateful unless you step out of the country to other places that are not doing so well.  

To further fuel discontent, in recent years many wealthy and talented immigrants have come to Singapore to work and live. 

Feel like you’ve gotten poorer? 

Just as how an objectively smart person can feel stupid in a room full of even smarter people, it’s a natural thing to feel when you’re sharing a city with multi-millionaires and billionaires. 

Generational progress is not just about getting richer

It’s important to make the distinction between ‘getting better’ and becoming wealthier. Singapore is a prosperous country, but the people are some of the world’s unhappiest. 

This is known as the paradox of progress. 

If we want life to get better for future generations in Singapore, it's not more of the same. 

Yes, economic growth and material wealth have brought us so far. They’re still important today. But it’s also important to acknowledge their limits when it comes to improving our wellbeing. 

In return for material prosperity, Singaporeans have made a few sacrifices. 

We operate at a state of hypercompetition – or kiasuness – from a young age. This causes stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. We are impatient, ungracious and unforgiving. We rush to meet adulting milestones, and feel like failures if we don’t meet them. 

All this can’t be good for our wellbeing. Our relationships. Our outlook in life. Our perspective on starting a family and kids – given Singapore’s current fertility conundrum. 

Oh – here’s a thought: what is generational progression…when there’s literally no next generation? 

Now that’s something to think about. 

Stay woke, salaryman.

What are your thoughts about making life better for the next generation? Do you think Singapore’s fast-paced and competitive environment has affected your quality of life negatively? Are you putting off having kids because of this? Let us know in the comments.