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First, Singapore is good at government (which is largely true). Second, the secret of its success lies in an Asian mixture of authoritarian values and state-directed capitalism (largely myth). Third, China is trying to copy Singapore (certainly true). Last, China’s government is already more efficient than the decadent West (mostly rubbish, see next section).

Fact or fiction?
For all the insults hurled at “Disneyland with the death penalty” (to use William Gibson’s gibe), Singapore provides better schools and hospitals and safer streets than most Western countries—and all with a state that consumes only 19% of GDP. Yes, that proportion is understated because it does not include the other fingers the government has in the economic pie, such as its huge landholdings, the Central Provident Fund (a mandatory savings scheme) and Temasek (a government-linked investment company). Yes, it is easier to serve 5m people on a tiny island than 309m Americans on a vast landmass. Yes, it has relied on immigration, which is now creating strains (and will be the main topic in the next election). And yes, Singapore’s bureaucrats can make mistakes, such as letting an Islamic terrorist escape in 2008. But its government does pretty well.

A. 어휘
government 통치. authoritarian 권위주의적인.
state-directed capitalism 국가가 主導(주도)하는 자본주의.
decadent 쇠퇴하는, 타락한. rubbish 쓸데없는 소리, 쓰레기.
insults 모욕. hurl 던지다, 욕을 퍼붓다. penalty 형벌. gibe 비웃음.
understate 줄여서 말하다. Provident 先見之明(선견지명)이 있는.
mandatory 강제적인, 명령의. strains 긴장. bureaucrats 관료.