Singapore Pays S$1 for 50 Reading Sessions to Rebuild Habits
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 18
Singapore Pays S$1 for 50 Reading Sessions to Rebuild Habits
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 18
Summary
Singapore this month began rewarding citizens who log 50 reading sessions of at least 15 minutes with S$1 on a government website, with only one session counted per day.
Behavioural scientists said the tiny payout may still work because it acts less like wages than a trigger—adding immediate feedback, streaks and progress markers that can help turn reading into a routine.
Experts cautioned the key test is whether reading continues after rewards stop, since some participants may read only for the extrinsic incentive while others may rediscover intrinsic enjoyment.
The scheme’s gamified design may matter more than the cash itself, and researchers suggested trials comparing money with badges, certificates, free books or points-only competitions to see what best revives reading.