This is a typical syndrome of Rich Poor Divide and it affects everyone FTs included. Let me explain.
In Chinese culture, Everyone hates someone who are richer them them. The Matland neighbours, PRCs you name it.
Simply because of car ownership as a luxury item. (that's the first thing tour guide will tell the tourists when they set foot).
Some call it stupid because u overpaid for something, like that 100K bag Victoria Adams bought.Then u'll call all luxury buyers of such items stupid also.
The cost of modest car is equivalent to a bungalow/apartment in China,Australia,US,UK + Home ownership it propels net asset to over close to 1 million.
That in itself shows how rich Singaporeans are.
Per person calculation (ie calculation 1.6 litre car = 80K + HDB flat = 450K). Now calculate per household. this is how normal people calculate, don't ask me go into nett asset value and all crap, they dun calculate to that level.
Such statistics makes people from these countries feel very small, and they are simply jealous of it.
The nett effect as well, middle class syndrome sets in where, "They" need to prove they can be richer than Singaporeans too and over commit themselves to property or car ownership.
This rollover effect causes spike in Goods and services such as travel, car ownership and House ownership.
In western culture , it's contrast, they look up to the rich. however because of infux of immigrants like mexicans, the middle class syndrome kicked in again, they want HOMEownership in US.
The recent case of ATm skimming of (1 million Ringgit) is justification that e-thieves are targetting Rich nations like Singapore,US and Uk .
Who the hell wants to rob a place like Phillipines,China,India,Malaysia ?
Technically, you're on radar of e-theives, because it technicality really is a nation for the rich, who wants to be a nation of the poor like Phillipes,Indonesia,india,China look at them.
Now, The ""wannabe rich"" China people are playing catchup and trying to show they have money to travel spent on cars and property like Singaporeans, so people will not look down on them,they hate that- this is called inferiority complex.
An inferiority complex, in the fields of psychology and psychoanalysis, is a feeling that one is inferior to others in some way. Such feelings can arise from an imagined or actual inferiority in the afflicted person. It is often subconscious, and is thought to drive afflicted individuals to overcompensate, resulting either in spectacular achievement or extreme schizotypal behavior, or both. Unlike a normal feeling of inferiority, which can act as an incentive for achievement (or promote discouragement), an inferiority complex is an advanced state of discouragement, often embedding itself into one's lifestyle, and sometimes resulting in a retreat from difficulties.
Retreat in difficulties means, "RunRoad"" or migrate to another country.