By Fiona Chan

NOW that everyone knows we're in recession, the question everyone is asking is this: When will the recovery begin?

The question is important, not just to the man on the street wondering about his job security or companies working out their margins for survival. Policymakers too need to gauge how deep and wide their cushions should be in this downturn, the worst in decades, and make sure they have enough money in case extra pillows are needed.

The cautiously optimistic consensus thus far is that Singapore's economy will be back in positive territory in the second half of next year, making this recession just a year long.

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