Comparing economic and social indicators towards sustainable development in Selangor, Malaysia

Type Journal Article - OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Title Comparing economic and social indicators towards sustainable development in Selangor, Malaysia
Author(s)
Volume 3
Issue 12
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2012
Page numbers 39-48
URL http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2048001
Abstract
Besides the natural system, the concept of sustainable development also encompasses the economic and social systems. In line with this concept, the Selangor State Structure Plan, 2002-2020 stated that the state is very committed towards implementing sustainable development and acknowledged the importance of social improvement. This is consistent with the Selangor sustainable development philosophy that highlighted the need to balance between economic growth, social wellbeing and environmental conservation. However, it is a common tendency for state and local authorities to focus more on the physical aspects and economic growth without comparable agenda in the social aspects. The state of Selangor can certainly be proud of its robust economy and extremely rapid physical development but could the same be said of its social infrastructure and public facilities? In an attempt to answer the aforementioned question, this paper presented the comparisons of several economic and social development indicators between the state of Selangor and the other states in Malaysia. Seven indicators for economic development and eight indicators for social development were compared. The economic development indicators include employment by various sectors, income and socio-economic measures, while the social development indicators include the provision of health, education and public facilities. The findings from comparing the various indicators show that the states of Selangor and Johor share the third rank, behind the states of Penang and Melaka in the economic development indicators. However, for social development indicators, Selangor ranked the lowest among all the fourteen states. Findings from the comparisons indicated that the social development in the state was not at par with the rapidly growing economy and the extensive physical development that had taken place. As such, the state government and local authorities in Selangor should give greater emphasis to social aspects of development in order to achieve the state’s sustainable development agenda.

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