SMU Professor of Psychology Norman Li, whose research interests include mate preferences and evolutionary psychology, said that technology such as dating apps has given singles the "illusion of choice". While it may seem that there are a myriad of people to choose from, the truth is that the other party also has to "pick you too", he said. Prof Li said, "There's a big trade-off... between economic success and productivity, and also these kinds of 'basic things' like family. The more prosperous a country is, the more you’re going to lose out on the basic kind of relationships, such as family, friendships. This often happens when a growing number in the population are too busy with work and too focused on climbing the corporate ladder to slow down and think of starting a family. Individuals face these trade-offs, and then countries as a whole face this trade-off."