The Hidden Cost of Dining Out in Singapore: A Consumer Rebellion Against the Rentier Economy A rentier economy is an economy where a big part of the country's income is derived not from hard work or producing things, but from collecting rent or ownership fees — like owning land, property, natural resources, or financial assets. In Singapore, a casual meal for two in a mall restaurant can easily exceed S$50 even without alcohol — a trend rooted in a broader economic imbalance: