Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia

Material Deprivation Among Urban Households in Malaysia

Department of Economics
Faculty of Business and Economics
Universiti Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

roza@um.edu.my

Department of Economics
Faculty of Business and Economics
Universiti Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

nurulhuda@um.edu.my

Department of Economics
Faculty of Business and Economics
Universiti Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

suteraalih@um.edu.my

Abstract

This study examines the use of the Material Deprivation Indicator (MDI) as an alternative measure of household well-being in Malaysia. The calculation of material deprivation was based on the data collected using a closed-ended questionnaire involving 1000 urban residents across Malaysia. Based on the elicited outcomes, the material deprivation rate is relatively higher than the official poverty rate. This suggests the inability of households to meet the customary essentials needed for a dignified living standard. By identifying a potential gap in the current poverty measurement approach, the current findings call for a more multidimensional assessment of well-being. The MDI can capture different aspects of deprivation by complementing the Poverty Line Income (PLI), thus advancing the understanding of household living standards within urban Malaysia.

 

Keywords

capability approach; Material Deprivation Index; material well-being; poverty; urban poor

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Bibliography

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Zakaria, R. H., Mohd Satar, N., & C. Alih, M. S.

(2026). Material Deprivation Among Urban Households in Malaysia. Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, 60(2), -.

@article{zakaria2026material,
  title={Material Deprivation Among Urban Households in Malaysia},
  author={Zakaria, Roza Hazli and Mohd Satar, Nurulhuda and C. Alih, Mas Sutera},
  journal={Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia},
  volume={60},
  number={2},
  pages={–},
 

year={2026},
}

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