Decision-Making Freedom among Households of Lower Income Group in Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

The present study aims to measure the current status of decision-making freedom on economic, social, and household related issues among the lower-income group categorized as the B40 in Selangor, Malaysia. The study utilizes a quantitative approach in analysing the primary data from a sample of 404, B40 people residing in the nine districts of Selangor. A stratified random sampling method is used to select the respondents and descriptive statistics together with Women Empowerment Index (WEI) are utilized in analysing the data. The WEI is employed to measure the status of freedom in terms of economic, social, and household decision-making. The study reveals that there is moderate level of freedom on decisionmaking in all three categories. The present study recommends policy considerations for successful and effective necessary guidelines for decision-making freedom on economic, social, and household related issues among the lower-income group categorized as the B40 in Selangor, Malaysia.