Honolulu looks to Singapore to solve its housing shortage

Apr 30, 2019
Honolulu’s housing market is one of the most expensive in the country.
Condo buildings visible from Ala Moana Beach Park.
Ryan Finnerty for Marketplace

"Crazy Rich Asians" director: "We would not have this fervor if we were just another one on Netflix"

Aug 14, 2018
The movie marks a pivot in Jon M. Chu's career to tell stories that haven't been seen on screen.
Jon M. Chu attends the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' “Crazy Rich Asians.”
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Singapore seems a wise choice for an unprecedented U.S.-North Korea summit

Jun 11, 2018
In Singapore, on the eve of the nuclear summit, they’re naming cocktails after leaders Kim and Trump. But a bit more seriously, the service sector for which Singapore is known — and one reason it was chosen — is kicking into high gear. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Bitcoin miners are optimistic about the future

Dec 21, 2017
There’s been a little dip in the bitcoin market this week. The cryptocurrency has dropped about 10 percent against the dollar. Of course, that’s in the face of a 1,700 percent rise in the past year, so those tulip bulb analogies still apply. Speculators, however, (investors, if you prefer) are just one side of the […]

Singapore's got some big retirement issues

Jun 3, 2014
Social security fears in one of the world's most rigorously-controlled economies.
Commuters commute at lunch hour at Raffles Place on February 14, 2013 in Singapore. The government white paper revealed Singapore's population may increase 30 percent to over 6.9 million by 2030, with nearly half the population expected to be foreign-born.
Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

Cars in Singapore match cost of average U.S. home

Due to rising demand and strict government controls, the price for a permit to buy a car in Singapore has risen to almost $67,000 dollars.