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Inequality And Determinants Of Earnings In Malaysia, 1984-97

Author

Listed:
  • Branko Milanovic

    (World Bank; Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

Abstract

Using the large nationally-representative Malaysian Household Income Surveys from 1984, 1989 and 1997, the paper studies earnings inequality and determinants of earnings. During the period 1984-97, Malaysia’s real per capita GDP increased by about 70 percent, participation rates for both men and women went up among all age groups and the average number of years of schooling increased by 1.2 years. Inequality of earnings, measured by the Gini coefficient, remained stable, but other measures of inequality (like decile ratios) show a significant relative wage improvement among the bottom deciles, and relative wage decrease on the top. The inter-state earning differences shrunk between 1984 and 1989 (a period of slow growth which includes the 1985-86 recession) and increased in the latter period. The rate of return to an additional year of schooling remained high (at 10 percent) despite the huge increase in the supply of the highly educated. The stable overall rate though masks an increased rate of return on women’s education, and a decreased rate for men. Women wage “discrimination” nevertheless amounts to 16-20 percent, and the bias has recently increased. The pro-Chinese earning ethnic bias is estimated at 31 percent.

Suggested Citation

  • Branko Milanovic, 2005. "Inequality And Determinants Of Earnings In Malaysia, 1984-97," Development and Comp Systems 0503007, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpdc:0503007
    Note: Type of Document - pdf; pages: 37
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J7 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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