Only Singapore, a relatively small economy of 5 million population, so far has managed to escape the dreaded middle-income trap.Of all the 10 member states of Asean, only three-Singapore,Brunei and Malaysia-have made it to the higher -income ($10,000 per capita and more) bracket, with per capita income (in 2013) of $55,000 in Singapore, $39,000 in Brunei and $10,000 in Malaysia.