Malaysian youth financial behaviour: A study in Kota Damansara

Malaysia is a developed country with successful achievement in economy and social over the last five decades. However, there is a gap between the country performance, government efforts and its youth financial behaviours. Prior to this study, previous studies found that youth in Malaysia was reportedly had poor financial practices and behaviours. Hence, the objectives of this study are to investigate, examine, and identify the factors that influence financial behaviour among youth in Malaysia. Questionnaires were distributed to 400 respondents in Kota Damansara, Selangor, Malaysia in 2016. The respondents are ranging between the age of 15 to 40 years old. The finding of this study shows that age and income are two factors that significant with financial behaviours among youth in Malaysia, especially in Kota Damansara area. Youth within the age of 15 to 24 years old are found to be naive about financial education and financial knowledge, causing them to behave poorly financially. The finding also shows that youth with lower income has better financial behaviour compared to youth with higher income. Therefore, several strategies had been identified and suggested in this study to improve financial behaviours among youth especially within the age of 15 to 24 years old and earning high income. These strategies are hoped to improve financial behaviour among youth in Malaysia especially in Kota Damansara.