Personal Glimpses:
Here are some of the results of some questionnaires that were handed out regarding the Asian Crisis. We need you to fill out the questionnaire as well. We want to hear from YOU!
Liu Tianyao, (16 years old) from Singapore said:
Q: How has this economic recession affected your family life?
A: Plans were made to reduce spending. Nothing much as my parents are thrifty and they have saved for rainy days all along. In the short term, I don't think there will be much of a different. Generally, people in Singapore save a lot, maybe it is a tradition. A good thing too I must say.
Q: How has this economic recession affected you personally?
A: hmm hard to say. My allowance is fixed so the recession doesn't affect me. Unless I made a request for for extra pocket money, which will then be difficult.
Q: Have you had to give up any "luxuries" because of prices, etc.?
A: No. Inflation is low here. Prices are still the same here.
Q: Have you or do you know of someone who has lost their job because of this crisis?
A: Yes, a few of my uncles.
Q: Do you have any other feedback?
A: Yes. I have an interesting case here. It is a case study. It is about some workers who were retrenched. Here is what I know: Some companies made use of the recession to retrench workers. There have been some grievances about the unfair treatment. My mother's friend was retrenched from her company after 18 years of service. The main reason she was retrenched, was her higher salary compared to others. Having worked for so long the annual salary increased had made her monthly salary and bonuses much higher than other relatively new workers. Thus the company in order to reduce cost retrenched her and instead hired a new hand. I feel that this is unfair for her to do this. (This type of case is rather rare or uncommon but they were adopted by companies trying to stay competitive.)
Pang Keep Ying, (16 years old) from Singapore said:
Q: How has this economics recession affected your family life?
A: Not much, just need more thinking before spending.
Q: How has this economics recession affected you personally?
A: Cut down on personal expenses.
Q: Have you had to give up any luxuries because of prices, etc.?
A: Used to buy an album a week, now buys an album in a fortnight to a month.
Q: Have you, or do you know of someone who has lost their job because of this crisis?
A: Yes, my cousin, he was retrenched by his company.
Q: Do you have any other feedback?
A: This is really one bad crisis and if it don't start to recover or stop, we are all going to run into some serious problems. Apparently, there had been the misconception that Singapore was not very badly hit. True, we are the best of the whole lot of countries who are in the slum here, but trust me, we, Singaporeans are running into problems also.
Xie Shangbin (16 years old) from Singapore said:
Q: How has this economic recession affected your family life?
A: Um..it hasn't affected much reallie. Perhaps, we don't buy things that much...but hmmzz..recently my family went on a shopping spree..so, I don't suppose it has affected much.
Q: How has this economic recession affected you personally?
A: Uh..not much..But I do try as much as possible to save..but somehow that ain't working..so I still spend finish the monthly allowance of $200.
Q: Have you had to give up any "luxuries" because of prices, etc.?
A: Not reallie. 'Cos I don't have any luxuries to speak of in the first place.
Q: Have you, or do you know of someone who has lost their job because of this crisis?
A: Fortunately, no.
Q: Do you have any other feedback?
A: I don't reallie have much to input.
Linda Wang (24 years old) from Taiwan, now studying in the US said:
Q: How has this economic recession affected your family life?
A: My family is not affected by the economy. The only effect is my tuition and living expenses are in US for currency.
Q: How has this economic recession affected you personally?
A: The currency changed from I US=24 NT to I US=34-40 NT.
Q: Have you had to give up any "luxuries" because of prices, etc?
A: Yes. I planned to have a car, but I have to give it up now.
Q: Have you, or do you know of someone who has lost their job because of this crisis?
A: No.
Q: Do you have any other feedback?
A: Good job.
Kaori Watanabe (27 years old) from Japan, now living in the US said:
Q: How has this economic recession affected your family life?
A: My father had his pay cut. We try not to spend money on luxurious items. As Japanese yen is getting weaker against US dollar, my brother who goes to college in Phoenix receives less funds compared to a year before.
Q: How has this economic recession affected you personally?
A: Not very much. I don't usually buy many things and try to save.
Q: Have you had to give up any "luxuries" because of prices, etc?
A: No.
Q: Have you, or do you know of someone who has lost their job because of this crisis?
A: No.
Q: Do you have any other feedback?
A: No.
Jessica Spitzer (34 years old) from Taiwan, now working in the US said:
Q: How has this economic recession affected your family life?
A: The number of Asian students coming to the USA for learning English is declining dramatically. It directly affects my husband's job, since he works as an instructor in WSU English language center. He was out of work for three months.
Q: How has this economic recession affected you personally?
A: Not much.
Q: Have you had to give up any "luxuries" because of prices, etc.?
A: No.
Q: Have you, or do you know of someone who has lost their job because of this crisis?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you have any other feedback?
A: No.
Sarah An (18 years old) from Seoul, South Korea, now studying in the US said:
Q: How has this economic recession affected your family life?
A: It was sort of beneficial.
Q: How has this economic recession affected you personally?
A: It gave me more cash in won, when I exchanged dollar to won.
Q: Have you had to give up any "luxuries" because of prices, etc.?
A: No.
Q: Have you, or do you know of someone who has lost their job because of this crisis?
A: Not personally.
Q: Do you have any other feedback?
A: No