SMU Professor of Economics (Practice) Augustine Tan is one of the economists who advocate a "pause in the helter-skelter drive towards the holy grail of higher productivity and high wages", as they want to buy more time by moving along at a more "realistic" pace. This implies that the nation has sufficient time at its disposal to make the crucial leap, notwithstanding rising global competition. After decades of restructuring efforts, pragmatists argue instead for making better use of available time rather than slipping back into old ways.