
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.
%203.jpg)
Views
Dec 29, 2025
The End of the American Deficit: Navigating the New Era of American Protectionism (Part 2)
Part 2: Building a New Architecture Explores the financial fragility of a world without a US deficit, urging Malaysia to pivot toward regional industrial integration and financial self-insurance to survive.
%203.jpg)
OP-ED.
Dec 29, 2025
The End of the American Deficit: Navigating the New Era of American Protectionism (Part 2)
Part 2: Building a New Architecture Explores the financial fragility of a world without a US deficit, urging Malaysia to pivot toward regional industrial integration and financial self-insurance to survive.

Views
Dec 29, 2025
The End of the American Deficit: Navigating the New Era of American Protectionism (Part 1)
Part 1: The Crisis of the Export-Led Model Analyzes how US tariffs and the ART dismantle Malaysia's export-led model, arguing that new constraints on autonomy trap the nation behind a balance of payments wall.

OP-ED.
Dec 29, 2025
The End of the American Deficit: Navigating the New Era of American Protectionism (Part 1)
Part 1: The Crisis of the Export-Led Model Analyzes how US tariffs and the ART dismantle Malaysia's export-led model, arguing that new constraints on autonomy trap the nation behind a balance of payments wall.
.avif)
Views
Dec 19, 2025
Finding Meaning in Education: The Journey of Entrepreneurship, Learning, and Creativity
The article reflects on entrepreneurship, education, and creativity as journeys rather than destinations. It talks about the “Myth of Arrival,” emphasizing meaning over material success. True learning lies in transformation and creativity emerges from inner experience as a means of self -expression. Success is redefined as continual growth and imaginative exploration.
.avif)
OP-ED.
Dec 19, 2025
Finding Meaning in Education: The Journey of Entrepreneurship, Learning, and Creativity
The article reflects on entrepreneurship, education, and creativity as journeys rather than destinations. It talks about the “Myth of Arrival,” emphasizing meaning over material success. True learning lies in transformation and creativity emerges from inner experience as a means of self -expression. Success is redefined as continual growth and imaginative exploration.
.avif)
Views
Dec 17, 2025
Remarks on the purposes of a university education: Can theory be distinguished from practice?
Universities are under attack for being too theoretical in educating students which leave in turn; graduates who are apparently ill-prepared for ‘practice’ or the ‘real world’. This article is an attempt to explore and address basic assumptions of the university curriculum and the context in which universities (in the West) have developed since the middle of the nineteenth century which saw the expansion of what has come to be known as the ‘modern’ university. This is because the university, through time, has always had to absorb and accumulate changing aspirations-and perhaps also the presumptions- of successive generations and not surprisingly, it has also come to disappoint them. What this short piece hopes to do is to stimulate dialogue on an issue of public discourse that has directly and indirectly shape the way we think about university education in Malaysia.
.avif)
OP-ED.
Dec 17, 2025
Remarks on the purposes of a university education: Can theory be distinguished from practice?
Universities are under attack for being too theoretical in educating students which leave in turn; graduates who are apparently ill-prepared for ‘practice’ or the ‘real world’. This article is an attempt to explore and address basic assumptions of the university curriculum and the context in which universities (in the West) have developed since the middle of the nineteenth century which saw the expansion of what has come to be known as the ‘modern’ university. This is because the university, through time, has always had to absorb and accumulate changing aspirations-and perhaps also the presumptions- of successive generations and not surprisingly, it has also come to disappoint them. What this short piece hopes to do is to stimulate dialogue on an issue of public discourse that has directly and indirectly shape the way we think about university education in Malaysia.
No news & event found in this category
You can browse other sections or return to the homepage.
Explore KRI work on this topic
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Book
Policy Briefs
Views
Data Sets
Data Visualisations
Reports
Discussion Papers
Working Papers
Demography
Financialisation & Indebtedness
Poverty & Social Mobility
Education
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Ageing, Fertility & Demographics
Income, & Consumption
Society
Taxation
Stephanie Hsu
Tan Hui Hui
Kelvin Ling Shyan Seng
Khairin Ilaina Mohamed Amin
Fiha Febiala
Govind Nirav Rao
C. Hari S. Shankar
Afifah Binti Ahmad
Elisabeth Chan Wen Yi
Nurrdinan Serena Amer Sharaffudin
Nurhanina Zaharin
Dr. Amirah 'Aisha Badrul Hisham
Nur Hannani Binti Abd Ghafar
Tehleel Nazir
Yee Suet Ee
Balqis Athirah Binti Azhar
Shukri Mohamed Khairi
Muhammad Syamin Bin Azman
Nurul Farhana Binti Abdul Shukor
Aidil Farhan Bin Jasrie Arman Sany
Amirah Syazwani Binti Ahmad Junaidi
Dinie Joshry Shaqeel
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 Lew
Muhammad Khairulamri
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 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
Aqeel Khaldun (University of St Andrews)
Aidil Iman Aidid
Nurul Farhana Abdul Shukor
Nur Thuraya Sazali
Yugendran Rajaendran
Putera Daniel Hakeem
Siti Aiysyah Tumin
Laventhen Sivashanmugam
Nithiyananthan Muthusamy
0
Results


Views
Oct 22, 2025
Shouting After the Rain: Why We Can Be Solving the Wrong Problems


OP-ED
Oct 22, 2025
Shouting After the Rain: Why We Can Be Solving the Wrong Problems
Education
Dr Yunus Yasin
Oct 22, 2025
Oct 22, 2025
Views


Views
Oct 1, 2025
The year of living dangerously


OP-ED
Oct 1, 2025
The year of living dangerously
Income, & Consumption
Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi
Oct 1, 2025
Oct 1, 2025
Views


Reports
Sep 30, 2025
Badges of Progress: A Study on Technology and Technical Talent Development in Malaysia


OP-ED
Sep 30, 2025
Badges of Progress: A Study on Technology and Technical Talent Development in Malaysia
Labour Trends & Youth Employment
Education
Regional Development
Dr Mohd Amirul Rafiq Abu Rahim
Sep 30, 2025
Sep 30, 2025
Reports


Discussion Papers
Sep 10, 2025
Interwoven Pathways: The Care and Career Conundrum in Women’s Empowerment


OP-ED
Sep 10, 2025
Interwoven Pathways: The Care and Career Conundrum in Women’s Empowerment
Gender Inclusion
Labour Trends & Youth Employment
Poverty & Social Mobility
Demography
Puteri Marjan Megat Muzafar
Sep 10, 2025
Sep 10, 2025
Discussion Papers


Views
Sep 4, 2025
Build Me a Model: The Power of Imagination


OP-ED
Sep 4, 2025
Build Me a Model: The Power of Imagination
Education
Dr Yunus Yasin
Sep 4, 2025
Sep 4, 2025
Views


Views
Aug 4, 2025
Choice of Education: Standardisation versus Individuality


OP-ED
Aug 4, 2025
Choice of Education: Standardisation versus Individuality
Education
Dr Yunus Yasin
Aug 4, 2025
Aug 4, 2025
Views
.avif)
.avif)
Views
Jul 28, 2025
Fiscal Reforms and the 13th Malaysia Plan
.avif)
.avif)
OP-ED
Jul 28, 2025
Fiscal Reforms and the 13th Malaysia Plan
Public Finance & Fiscal Reform
Financialisation & Indebtedness
Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi
Jul 28, 2025
Jul 28, 2025
Views


Views
Jul 8, 2025
Beyond the SST: Rethinking Malaysia’s Fruit Supply Strategy


OP-ED
Jul 8, 2025
Beyond the SST: Rethinking Malaysia’s Fruit Supply Strategy
Health, Nutrition & Public Health
Dr Teoh Ai Ni
Jul 8, 2025
Jul 8, 2025
Views


Views
Apr 11, 2025
Vertical Schools in Malaysia: What to Consider


OP-ED
Apr 11, 2025
Vertical Schools in Malaysia: What to Consider
Education
Nur Sofea Hasmira Azahar
Apr 11, 2025
Apr 11, 2025
Views

Quote Of The Day
An individual with a monthly salary of RM3,6875 is able to afford a unit in 45 out of the 420 housing projects from both apartment/condominium and serviced apartment types available for rent in Kuala Lumpur. Within the affordability range, rental prices span from RM700 to RM1,100, representing approximately 19% to 30% of the individual’s gross monthly income.

Views
December 12, 2025
A Quick Look at the KL Residential Rental Affordability Market
Many would have thought renting is a cheaper option than owning a house, especially in a big city like Kuala Lumpur. Drawing on the salary/wage data, this article argues that the cost of renting an apartment/condominium and a serviced apartment, which are likely the most available units for rent, is generally not affordable. An average-salaried individual in Kuala Lumpur is likely to face significant challenges in securing an affordable rental housing unit in the city.
featured report

Interwoven Pathways: The Care and Career Conundrum in Women’s Empowerment
Want more stories like these in your inbox?





