SMU’s Centre for Silver Security Director, Professor Benedict Koh, said that the asset-rich, cash-poor phenomenon is an outcome of over-investment in property. And the proportion of such seniors is only going to rise as the population ages, he added. However, there are those who feel the asset-rich are being too demanding. SMU's Prof Koh believes that, "it would be inequitable for well-off retirees to insist on holding on to their wealth in property but want handouts from the Government because they don't have enough cashflow". However, he said that the Government should spend more effort tackling "the underlying cause of the phenomenon" – the over-investment in property. He calls for a cap on how much CPF savings can be tied up in property.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SKBI MAILING LIST*
Be alerted on SKBI news and forthcoming events.
*Please note that upon providing your consent to receive marketing communications from SMU SKBI, you may withdraw your consent, at any point in time, by sending your request to skbi_enquiries [at] smu.edu.sg (subject: Withdrawal%20consent%20to%20receive%20marketing%20communications%20from%20SMU) . Upon receipt of your withdrawal request, you will cease receiving any marketing communications from SMU SKBI, within 30 (thirty) days of such a request.