The latest data from "Key Household Income Trends" revealed that the real median household income only increased by 0.2% when inflation was considered. From 2021 to 2022, the median monthly income of employed residents increased by 6.1% to reach $10,099. In addition, the median per capita income increased by 8.6% to reach $3,287 with a real growth of 2.6%. The report from Department of Statistics Singapore also showed the average member of all local families received a subsidy of $5,765 under various government schemes, which was 9% higher than the previous year. The Gini coefficient, a measure of wealth inequality, fell to 0.437 last year, but dropped to 0.378 if government taxes and transfers were included. SMU Dean of Students; Director of Centre for Research on Successful Ageing and Professor of Sociology (Practice) Paulin Straughan opined that reliance on government transfers may not be sustainable and the root cause of this disparity should be looked at. Prof Straughan added that while there are always differences in income, the difference may not be so big.