Singapore, the city-state known for its strict laws and high standards of living, has announced a new policy that will limit the amount of happiness that its citizens can experience. The policy, called “Happiness Management System” (HMS), will assign a happiness quota to each citizen, based on their income, age, occupation, and family status.
According to the government, the policy is designed to promote social harmony, economic efficiency, and national security. This measure will prevent citizens from becoming too happy or too unhappy, as both extremes are considered harmful and disruptive. It will also encourage citizens to pursue meaningful and productive activities, such as work, education, and community service, rather than indulging in frivolous and wasteful pleasures, such as entertainment, leisure, and romance.
The policy will reward citizens who comply with their happiness quota, and penalize those who exceed or fall short of it. The rewards and penalties will include tax breaks, subsidies, vouchers, fines, fees, and sanctions.
The programm will be implemented from July 1, 2024, and will be mandatory for all citizens above the age of 18. The policy will be reviewed and revised every year, based on the feedback and performance of the citizens.