This course enables students to learn from and interact with the partners on real-world issues, problems, and policies related to the family and the society at large, especially for the case of Singapore. Students start with some economic theories, and will need to extend quickly to other disciplines such as sociology, social work, psychology, law, and politics, and hence inter-disciplinary in nature. The topics to be covered are experiential and evolving, according to the current issues or challenges faced by the partners. In essence, students learn not just theories, but also have an opportunity to contribute in actual research and practices of the partners.
Students examined the mobility of young people today through understanding the role of the family in the formation of expectations, aspirations and capital, and how competing expectations and unmet aspirations might affect wellbeing.
Students analysed the cost incurred by families and the society at large on the issue of the rising trend of vulnerable youths with mental health conditions.
Students researched on the challenges and opportunities related to the upward mobility of workers, including the relationship of upward mobility investment with workers' satisfaction with family, confidence in government policies on retirement and savings, and economic status of their children.