re: Why don't we ever hear about singapore

Singapore is one of the most economically viable cities in the world. There's no debate about that.

Singapore is ranked first worldwide for the ease of doing business by the World Bank for 2012, consecutively for 7 years.[13]
Singapore is ranked first in the Global Enabling Trade Report.[14]
Singapore is ranked the 3rd most competitive country in the world.[15]
Singapore is first in the world to have the best protection of intellectual property.[16]
Unemployment rate with 1.9% unemployment (2014 (Q4))
United Nations: Human Development Index 2014, ranked 9 out of 187 countries[20]
The Wall Street Journal: Index of Economic Freedom 2013, ranked 2 out of 155 countries

That seems like econmically viable to me. Unless you thought I meant economical and not at all. And what does time spent on a flight have to do with anything?