GENUINE SAVINGS FOR MALAYSIA: WHAT DOES IT TELL?

Resource and environmental economists have argued that the conventional GDP is not an adequate indicator to reflect if an economy is growing sustainably, as it does not consider the changes in national capital and pollution impacts. The World Bank Genuine Savings indicator, though in the weak sustainability form, provides an alternative measure. This paper calculates the Genuine Savings for Malaysia from 1990–2008. While the results show that the Genuine Savings for Malaysia has been positive, its ratio to GDP declines markedly following the economic crisis of 1997/98. Comparisons with selected countries, especially South Korea and Indonesia are also made. Policy implications are deliberated at the end of the paper.