Study: Malaysia's income gap doubled in two decades

The study argued that policymakers need to think beyond the Gini coefficient and include measures to address the absolute earnings gap.PHOTO: REUTERS.

KUALA LUMPUR (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Despite a reduction in official income inequality, the absolute earnings gap between Malaysia's top 20 per cent and their countrymen has nearly doubled, putting more Malaysians in relative poverty.

A new study by Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) released on Monday (Oct 15) argued that policymakers need to think beyond the Gini coefficient - which represents the relative difference in earnings - and include measures to address the absolute earnings gap.