The main objective of this study is to estimate the effects of education on earnings of Malaysians. To achieve the objective, a Mincerian earning function has been estimated using Malaysia’s Household Income Survey 2009. Apart from considering levels of qualification, factors such as age, marital status, ethnicity, occupational types and geographical locations have been considered in the estimations. The results show that the rates of return in Malaysia are high and positive, especially at the upper secondary and university education levels. Male workers, on average, received 40.3% higher than their female counterparts, holding other factors constant. There is also significant evidence of wage differential attributable to regional/urban-rural locations in Malaysia. By occupational activities, our estimates suggest that employers received the highest income, followed by those in public service, private sector, and then self-employed workers. Wage differential in Malaysia is also explained by ethnicity.
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate into the factors that influence charitable giving in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs Malaysia’s Household Income Survey 2009. Results are obtained by undertaking a regression analysis. In the econometric model, charitable giving is proxied by transfer payment made by every respondent. The variable is considered as the dependent variable, while demographic, educational, occupational and geographical factors have been considered as the independent variables.
Findings
In general, factors such as income, age, educational levels, marital status, gender and geographical location have statistically significant effects on Malaysians’ charitable giving. A 1 per cent increase in income would result in an increase in charitable giving by 1.5 per cent, ceteris paribus. In Malaysia, charitable giving would initially increase and peaked at the age of 40 years before decline slowly over the working age – inverted-U shape of the charity–age curve. Women donate 8.7 per cent more than men. The upper secondary school has the highest marginal effects on charitable giving at 10.7 per cent. After upper secondary school, the marginal effects of subsequent levels of education on charitable giving diminish.
Research limitations/implications
The findings need to be supported with experimental studies for more consistent evidence.
Practical implications
Charitable giving can be nurtured especially through early years of education.
Social implications
The understanding derived from this study is crucial in the efforts to build an inclusive and caring heterogeneous Malaysian society.
Originality/value
This study pioneers large sample analysis to understand charitable giving behavior by Malaysians. The computation of marginal effects of education on charitable giving is another major contribution of this study.
Using data collected from urban households in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, this study examined the impact of household debt on urban household consumption decisions. The findings revealed that household debt does not generally affect consumption decisions, except in the case of expenditure on vacation, which tends to be reduced for households facing high levels of debt. Furthermore, general financial wellness tends to be the main factor affecting consumption rather than debt. Households with poorer financial wellness make more frequent cuts to daily meals, fruit, utility, transportation, clothing, medical care, vacations, and leisure activities. Although the impact of debt on consumption is not extensive, it must be closely monitored to ensure that the risk is contained and that the wellbeing of households is not adversely affected.
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