In a commentary, economist, writer and urban theorist Sanjeev Sanyal noted that when Singapore's government planned SMU, it set it up in the middle of the city. He opined that Singapore benefits from the "urban buzz" brought by young people while the University profits from being close to state and corporate institutions. Contrast this with Indian planners' idea of academic institutions: merely places for teaching students that have little direct link with the daily functioning of the city.