Public expenditure in Malaysia who benefits and why

• Main Author: Meerman, Jacob 1931- (Author)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: New York Published for the World Bank [by] Oxford University Press 1979
• Subjects: Government spending policy > Malaysia; Income distribution > Malaysia; Malaysia > Appropriations and expenditures
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.
• Item Description: Includes index.
• Physical Description: xx, 383 pages illustrations 24 cm
• Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (p. 368-373) and index
• ISBN: 0195200969

The distributive effects of public expenditures in Malaysia were investigated, focusing on public spending for education, medical care, public utilities, and agriculture. Two sets of data were developed: information on the costs of government ooutputs in each of several major programs and a sample survey of use of these services by household. Political power is concentrated among the Malays who desire to equalize incomes with the Chinese. The combined federal outlays are highest in rural areas, the home of the Malays, and lowest in wealthy Selangor. In contrast to the distribution of education, medical care, agricultural assistance, and pensions, the distribution of public utilities is more conventional. Most of those who can afford the utilities are urban dwellers, usually Chinese. Production costs are far lower for the urban areas. Nevertheless, the discrepancy between town and country is considerably smaller in Malaysia than in other countries. Federal expenditure for agriculture was high, amounting to nearly 3 percent of the GNP. Five appendices provide data on the public accounts, the sample survey, education, estimating unit costs of medical services, and transfer payments.