Commenting on the latest annual Population in Brief report, SMU Dean of Students and Professor of Sociology (Practice) Paulin Straughan said, "In the next five years, we have to do whatever possible to encourage them to cross the marital status barrier. If we succeed, we will have another echo. But if we miss, the proportion of young persons would shrink, and we will be in trouble." She added that while pro-family government policies are in place, more can be done to help single young working people focus on nurturing relationships.