Income inequality and the definition of income : the case of Malaysia / Michael W. Kusnic, Julie DaVanzo.

By:

Kusnic, Michael W, 1952- [author.]

Contributor(s):

Publisher: Santa Monica, CA : RAND, 1980Description: xvi, 121 pages : illustrations ; 28 cmContent type:

text

Media type:

computer
unmediated

Carrier type:

online resource
volume

ISBN:

0833002279

Subject(s):

Income distribution -- Malaysia

Genre/Form:

Electronic books.

LOC classification:

HC445.5.Z9 K87 1980

Online resources:

Click here to access online

Available additional physical forms:

Also available on the internet via WWW in PDF format.

Summary: Explores the sensitivity of estimates of Malaysian income levels, interethnic or urban/rural differences, and income inequality to several factors. Using four measures of income, the report shows that estimates of income inequality in Malaysia or among its ethnic subgroups are very sensitive to how broadly income is defined and to the other factors examined. For example, failure to consider nonmarket sources of income leads to serious underestimates of the relative income share of the poorest quintile of the population; that share more than doubles when the definition of income is broadened from market income to measures that include the value of nonmarket production, such as cottage industry. Such startling disparities should warn researchers and policymakers to be extremely careful in processing and interpreting income data, especially when comparing data from different studies, countries, or periods.

Item type:

eBooks

Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)

Holdings ( 0 )
Title notes ( 5 )

No physical items for this record

"June 1980."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 119-121).

Explores the sensitivity of estimates of Malaysian income levels, interethnic or urban/rural differences, and income inequality to several factors. Using four measures of income, the report shows that estimates of income inequality in Malaysia or among its ethnic subgroups are very sensitive to how broadly income is defined and to the other factors examined. For example, failure to consider nonmarket sources of income leads to serious underestimates of the relative income share of the poorest quintile of the population; that share more than doubles when the definition of income is broadened from market income to measures that include the value of nonmarket production, such as cottage industry. Such startling disparities should warn researchers and policymakers to be extremely careful in processing and interpreting income data, especially when comparing data from different studies, countries, or periods.

Also available on the internet via WWW in PDF format.

Description based on print version record.