Publications

Inequality presents challenges to countries the world over. Persistent gaps in income, wealth and opportunity, and entrenchment of power and privilege resonate globally and regionally. Waves of popular discontent towards a system perceived or experienced as unfair serve notice to governments, and can influence the outcome of elections.

Tool for visualising equivalised income for comparison of living standards across households.

Malaysia has consistently placed high priority on reducing income inequality, particularly between ethnic groups, with increasing emphasis in recent years on national—rather than intergroup—inequality, exclusion of low-income households, and gender disparity.

This report examines approaches in public policies in addressing households’ needs, especially those with limited economic resources. It also discusses the welfare policies that have evolved from focusing on the households in absolute poverty to the poorest 40% households (B40). The analytical framework of this study is anchored on an integrated analysis of household income and consumption—two measures acknowledged in the literature as good proxies in capturing households’ material well-being and in comparing the distribution of living standards across households.

Every day, about 3 billion (b) cups of coffee are consumed globally. There are over 66 species of coffee but two of the most common cultivated species are Arabica and Robusta. In Malaysia, Robusta and Liberica are varieties commonly grown by coffee planters.