What this lesson teaches
I can explain why a decision for society can cost some groups more than others.
Syllabus K336, Issue 1, Guiding Question 3, Challenges in deciding what is good for society. Unequal sharing of costs
Make a guess
In 2023 the government said the Kranji racecourse land would be used for housing. Most people never went to the races. Who do you think bore the cost?
- Nobody, because few people still used the racecourse land.
- The racing community, including staff who lost their jobs.
- Taxpayers equally, since public land belongs to the whole country.
Show the answer
The racing community, including staff who lost their jobs.
Many future residents gain homes, but a smaller group loses its livelihood. A benefit for most does not cancel their loss.
A project can help society overall while some people bear more of the cost.
A cost is not only money. People can also lose time, access, income or quiet.
Building a new MRT line helps many commuters. But residents near the worksite live with noise and dust for years, and some shops may lose customers during construction.
Ask who bears the cost, how serious it is and how long it lasts, and whether it can be reduced. A benefit for most people does not cancel a real loss for some. But a cost to some does not mean the whole project is wrong.
Land use shows this clearly. In June 2023 the government announced that the Singapore Racecourse at Kranji would be returned by 2027. Its land, about 120 hectares, will be used for public housing and other needs. Singapore has limited land, so many future residents gain homes. The racing community bears the cost. The Turf Club's last race was held in October 2024, ending more than 180 years of horse racing, and staff lost their jobs.
- Cost
- Loss of money, time, access, income or quiet.
- Unequal costs
- Some groups bear more of the cost than others.
- Ask
- Who pays, how much, for how long, and can it be reduced?
Real examples to use
Kranji racecourse closure, 2023 to 2027
Announced in June 2023 to free about 120 hectares for housing. The last race was in October 2024, and the land returns to the state by 2027. Use it for costs falling more heavily on one group.
Cross Island Line, from 2019
Commuters gain faster trips, while the nature reserve and residents near worksites live with tunnelling risks and construction for years. Use it for benefits shared widely and costs borne locally.
Worked example: Closing the Kranji racecourse, 2023 to 2027
The Ministries of Finance and National Development said the 120-hectare racecourse site would be redeveloped, including for public housing. The Singapore Turf Club held its last race in October 2024 and must hand the land back by 2027. Its employees were offered retrenchment packages, career guidance, training and counselling.
- Who benefits: future home buyers and society, because scarce land goes to housing.
- Who bears the cost: Turf Club staff, jockeys, trainers and racing fans, who lose jobs or a long tradition.
- Reducing the cost: retrenchment packages and job support soften the loss but do not remove it. A fair answer weighs both sides instead of saying the benefit cancels the cost.
Watch out for this
If most residents benefit, nobody can reasonably object.
A small group may still bear a serious cost. A fair decision takes their loss into account.
Check your understanding
A new MRT line helps thousands of commuters but causes years of noise for nearby residents. What is the best conclusion?
- The line brings a large benefit, but residents bear a cost that should be reduced.
- The line should be moved, because no group should bear a cost for others.
- The residents' complaints matter less, because far more people benefit from the line overall.
Show the answer
The line brings a large benefit, but residents bear a cost that should be reduced.
Right. Weigh the benefit and the cost, and look for ways to reduce the cost.