
Households, Demography & Public Wellbeing
Understanding demographic transitions, household dynamics, and wellbeing indicators to inform evidence-based policies for Malaysia's diverse population.

Malaysia's demographic landscape is undergoing significant transitions that shape social and economic futures. Our research examines rapid population aging and its implications for healthcare and pension systems, declining fertility rates and changing family structures, inter-ethnic relations and social cohesion mechanisms, healthcare access disparities between urban and rural areas, and education quality gaps affecting human capital development.
As Malaysia strives to enhance public wellbeing across all communities, we analyze household income patterns and cost of living pressures, mental health challenges and support systems, nutrition transitions and non-communicable disease burdens, social protection adequacy for vulnerable groups including B40 households, and mechanisms for promoting social mobility while preserving cultural diversity across Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous communities.
As Malaysia strives to enhance public wellbeing across all communities, we analyze household income patterns and cost of living pressures, mental health challenges and support systems, nutrition transitions and non-communicable disease burdens, social protection adequacy for vulnerable groups including B40 households, and mechanisms for promoting social mobility while preserving cultural diversity across Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous communities.
KRI shares insightful commentaries on current topics to encourage discussion, but these do not represent KRI's official views.

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May 25, 2026
NEXUS Survey Preliminary Findings: Vulnerabilities and Needs within the Night Market Ecosystem
Malaysia’s night market ecosystem faces persistent vulnerabilities, with low social protection uptake, rising economic pressures, and shifting consumer trends.

OP-ED.
May 25, 2026
NEXUS Survey Preliminary Findings: Vulnerabilities and Needs within the Night Market Ecosystem
Malaysia’s night market ecosystem faces persistent vulnerabilities, with low social protection uptake, rising economic pressures, and shifting consumer trends.

Views
May 15, 2026
Possible Losses From Lowering The School Entry Age
Using Malaysian census data, the paper shows earlier school entry may reduce educational attainment and high-skilled employment prospects. Disadvantages are concentrated among lower-income children, potentially widening inequality under optional enrolment policies.

OP-ED.
May 15, 2026
Possible Losses From Lowering The School Entry Age
Using Malaysian census data, the paper shows earlier school entry may reduce educational attainment and high-skilled employment prospects. Disadvantages are concentrated among lower-income children, potentially widening inequality under optional enrolment policies.
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Views
Mar 28, 2026
Artificial Intelligence, Education, and the Transformation of Learning
Artificial intelligence is reshaping education, questioning its impact on critical thinking, skill development, and self-discovery, while arguing for balanced use of technology to preserve meaningful human learning.
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OP-ED.
Mar 28, 2026
Artificial Intelligence, Education, and the Transformation of Learning
Artificial intelligence is reshaping education, questioning its impact on critical thinking, skill development, and self-discovery, while arguing for balanced use of technology to preserve meaningful human learning.

Views
Mar 2, 2026
When do Men Care? Insights on Care, Crisis and Masculinities during COVID-19
This article examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic led to lasting changes in men’s participation in unpaid care. While men’s involvement increased during the pandemic, the shift was largely temporary, with women continuing to bear the majority of care responsibilities. The findings highlight the need for gender-inclusive care policies that promote men’s continuous involvement in care.

OP-ED.
Mar 2, 2026
When do Men Care? Insights on Care, Crisis and Masculinities during COVID-19
This article examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic led to lasting changes in men’s participation in unpaid care. While men’s involvement increased during the pandemic, the shift was largely temporary, with women continuing to bear the majority of care responsibilities. The findings highlight the need for gender-inclusive care policies that promote men’s continuous involvement in care.
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Book
Policy Briefs
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Data Sets
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Reports
Discussion Papers
Working Papers
Demography
Financialisation & Indebtedness
Poverty & Social Mobility
Education
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Ageing, Fertility & Demographics
Income, & Consumption
Society
Taxation
Dania Arissa Muhamad Zaharin
Muhammad Najib Abu Hassan Alshari
Maryam Halim
Richard Kozul-Wright
Carol Fong
YB Liew Chin Tong
Ahmad Azeem Bin Yusri
Ayesha Ashraf Khan
Junianto James Losari
Eleanor Wikstrom
Dr Roza Hazli Zakaria
Stephanie Hsu
Tan Hui Hui
Kelvin Ling Shyan Seng
Khairin Ilaina Mohamed Amin
Govind Nirav Rao
C. Hari S. Shankar
Afifah Ahmad
Elisabeth Chan Wen Yi
Nurrdinan Serena Amer Sharaffudin
Nurhanina Zaharin
Dr Amirah 'Aisha Badrul Hisham
Nur Hannani Abd Ghafar
Tehleel Nazir
Yee Suet Ee
Balqis Athirah Azhar
Shukri Mohamed Khairi
Nurul Farhana Abdul Shukor
Aidil Farhan Jasrie Arman Sany
Amira Syazwani Ahmad Junaidi
Dinie Joshry Shaqeel Prakash
Ts Dr Amirah Aisha Badrul Hisham
Professor Joseph Eugene Stiglitz
K. Kuhaneetha Bai
Nadia Malyanah Azman
Siti Maisarah Zainurin
Ndongo Samba Sylla
Malini Elango
Aqeel Khaldun
Belinda Liew Ai Ching
Muhammad Khairulamri Muhammad
Nicholas Khaw
Nur Zulaikha Atiqah Mohd Zahril
Dr Diana Abdul Wahab
Dr Umawathy Techanamurthy
Bryan Yeoh Quan Jin
Wan Manan Wan Muda
Alyssa Chua Lee-Yen
Goh Ming Jun
Mohan Mahadeva
Yap Chun Hao
Syafa Sakinah Mustaffa
Ammar Hanania Hazli Izma
Dr Yunus Yasin
Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir
Professor Emeritus Dr Tham Siew Yean
Datuk Hisham Hamdan
Khazanah Research Institute
Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Tan Mei Yi
Emir Izat Abdul Rashid
Lim Han Hsuen
Ida Madieha Abdul Ghani Azmi
Musaddiq Adam Muhtar
Nur Adilah Hamid
Chakrin Utit
Bach Nguyen Luong
Zainab Ali Ahmad
Kusairi Mohd Noh
Rokiah Alavi
Ibrahim Kabiru Maji
Illisriyani Ismail
Intan Nadia Jalil
Abdulla Ibragimov
Siti Nooraznie Abdul Rahim
Fatimah Mohamed Arshad
Dr Mohd Yusof Saari
Pierre Sauvé
Tan Theng Theng
Charissa Lee Yi Zhen
Yap Gin Bee
Tan Kar Man
Junaidi Mansor
Alia Muhammad Radzi
Yeu-Mynn Yeung
Prof. Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda
Tan Zhai Gen
Umi Maisarah Kamis
Shukri Mohamed Khairi
Wong Ee Kin
Dr Wan Khatina Wan Nawawi
Maia Hollins-Kirk
Grace Loh Wan Chi
Keelea Shaye Linsuau Soh
Hui San Chiam
Goh Hao Yi
Daniel Filippi
Azlin Natasha Mohd Ghazali
Balqis Athirah Azhar
Dr Sarena Che Omar
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Results

Reports
Dec 1, 2019
Demarcating Households: An Integrated Income and Consumption Analysis

OP-ED
Dec 1, 2019
Demarcating Households: An Integrated Income and Consumption Analysis
Income, & Consumption
Hawati Abdul Hamid
Dec 1, 2019
Dec 1, 2019
Reports

Discussion Papers
Oct 18, 2019
Behind the Blackboard: How basic indicators mask gaps in quality of education

OP-ED
Oct 18, 2019
Behind the Blackboard: How basic indicators mask gaps in quality of education
Education
Tan Kar Man
Oct 18, 2019
Oct 18, 2019
Discussion Papers


Reports
Oct 3, 2019
Time to Care: Gender Inequality, Unpaid Care Work and Time Use Survey


OP-ED
Oct 3, 2019
Time to Care: Gender Inequality, Unpaid Care Work and Time Use Survey
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Christopher Choong Weng Wai
Oct 3, 2019
Oct 3, 2019
Reports


Views
Sep 11, 2019
Plastic: An Undegradable Problem


OP-ED
Sep 11, 2019
Plastic: An Undegradable Problem
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Alyssa Farha Jasmin
Sep 11, 2019
Sep 11, 2019
Views

Views
Jun 11, 2019
The Absolute vs Relative Poverty Conundrum

OP-ED
Jun 11, 2019
The Absolute vs Relative Poverty Conundrum
Poverty & Social Mobility
Christopher Choong Weng Wai
Jun 11, 2019
Jun 11, 2019
Views


Reports
Oct 15, 2018
The State of Households 2018: Different Realities


OP-ED
Oct 15, 2018
The State of Households 2018: Different Realities
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Allen Ng
Oct 15, 2018
Oct 15, 2018
Reports


Reports
Oct 8, 2018
Malaysia’s Trade Governance at a Crossroads


OP-ED
Oct 8, 2018
Malaysia’s Trade Governance at a Crossroads
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
International Trade
Pierre Sauvé
Oct 8, 2018
Oct 8, 2018
Reports


Reports
Oct 1, 2018
Structure of the Malaysian Economy: An Input-Output Analysis


OP-ED
Oct 1, 2018
Structure of the Malaysian Economy: An Input-Output Analysis
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Dr Mohd Yusof Saari
Oct 1, 2018
Oct 1, 2018
Reports


Views
Mar 19, 2018
Tobacco Control: Curbing the Craving


OP-ED
Mar 19, 2018
Tobacco Control: Curbing the Craving
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Nazihah Muhamad Noor
Mar 19, 2018
Mar 19, 2018
Views

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Interwoven Pathways: The Care and Career Conundrum in Women’s Empowerment
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