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SINGAPORE: THE GLOBAL CITY-STATE. By Geoffrey Murray and Audrey Perera. New York: St. Martin's Press. 1996. xiii, 285 pp. US$55.00, cloth, ISBN -31212958-0; US$20.00, paper ISBN 0-312-12959-.
THIS BOOK is a cross between a business guide book and a country commentary, with the business community as its intended audience. With this role in mind, Singapore: The Global City-State will be a handy introduction for businessmen and executives alike, who want more substance beyond the usual "sell" provided by glossy investment promotion packages.
The style is very user-friendly, without the usual data compilations and academic jargon associated with books on development. The reader will also find the description of various policies, labour regulations, and business incentives particularly useful. I really like the authors' attempts at using case studies of industrial regions (Batam and Johor), industries (petrochemicals and electronics), and companies (Keppel, Racal, and Siemens). This is an effective way...