I don't think that this comment was meant to signal approval of the strict/oppressive speech and press rights in Singapore, but it unfortunately reads as such. If I am misinterpreting your comment, how do you reconcile the apparent "if and only if" relationship you're positing, with countries like South Africa, Czech Republic, Slovakia, etc., that while not strictly third world, have seen increasing economic successes come in conjunction with increasingly free policies over the past 30 years? Superficially, Singapore appears to be the exception and not the rule: Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines all have seen greater growth as liberalization progresses, as well.