Singapore Unpacked | Episode 1 — Large families scheme – will it nudge families to have a third kid?
The first episode of IPS Podcast — Singapore Unpacked delves into the new Large Families Scheme announced in the Budget 2025 statement, aimed at addressing the nation's declining birth rate. The initiative provides additional financial support to parents who welcome a third or subsequent child, raising critical questions about whether monetary incentives alone can overcome the entrenched two-child norm. The episode explores if additional measures — such as enhanced childcare leave, flexible work arrangements, and supportive workplace policies — could make a tangible difference for families navigating the complexities of modern parenthood. Together with host Liang Kaixin, Associate Director at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Dr Kalpana Vignehsa, senior research fellow at the same Institute, and Peggy Teo, a working professional with two young children, examine the specifics of the scheme, and discuss the practical challenges parents face, such as balancing career demands with the responsibilities of raising children, and consider broader policy implications on Singapore society.  

About our Guests:
Dr Kalpana Vignehsa
Senior Research Fellow at IPS
Dr Kalpana Vignehsa is Senior Research Fellow in the Governance and Economy department at the Institute of Policy Studies. She works on topics related to immigration and social integration in families and workplaces. Kalpana also has interests in the lived experience of parenthood and behavioural interventions in healthcare and environmentalism. 

Peggy Teo
Mother of Two
Peggy is a working professional and mother of two with experience managing the dual demands of career and parenting.

Find Out More: 

To raise birth rate, the middle ground is fertile ground - Kalpana Vignesha | Straits Times:
https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/ips/publications/details/to-raise-birth-rate-the-middle-ground-is-fertile-ground 
Budget 2025: Families with three or more young children to receive more financial support | Straits Times:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2025-more-financial-support-for-large-families-with-three-or-more-young-children 
Large Families Scheme:
https://www.madeforfamilies.gov.sg/support-measures/raising-your-child/financial-support/large-families-scheme

For further insights into family policies and the evolving dynamics of work-life balance in Singapore, visit IPScommons.sg or follow @IPS_sg on Instagram and TikTok. Stay tuned for more conversations that transform research into real-world policy stories.