Malaysia has long wished to join the ranks of developed countries. Admission to the OECD, often referred to as the "rich countries' club", would be a formal recognition. But how close is Malaysia to the OECD level of development?
Judging from its economic development, the answer is "close". In 2019, Malaysia's per﹣capita GDP was estimated at about 12,200,notfarbehindthe13,530 average of the six least wealthy OECD members, according to World Bank data. Per﹣capita GDP is a very narrow gauge of development, though. Another good measure is the human development index, or HDI, which takes into account life expectancy, health, quality of life and education. In 2019, Malaysia's HDI put it 61st of 189 countries. Within Asia, only three countries rank higher: Singapore at 9th, Japan at 19th and Korea at 22nd. So Malaysia has made good progress.
However, the service sector provides a more comprehensive assessment. The service sector, as opposed to agriculture or manufacturing, tends to be the largest and most important in any developed economy. Here you find the best﹣paid, most highly skilled jobs. Services reflect the quality of a country's workers. And since a large part of the service sector is linked to consumers, it also measures consumer-sector development. An innovative, sophisticated service sector with a strong supply of skilled labor and steady demand from its customers is a meaningful measure of a country's development.
So how is Malaysia's services sector? On the supply side, Malaysia boasts one of the best﹣educated populations in emerging Asia. However, educational quality is far from satisfactory. According to the OECD's latest Program for International Student Assessment(PISA), Malaysian students of equivalent education levels perform only about 85% as well as their OECD peers in reading, 88% in math and 84% in science. It's better on the demand side, where private consumption has survived slowing global trade and rising economic uncertainty. In the first half of 2019, private consumption grew by 7.7% year on year-not far off 2018's 8% growth-despite falling investment and slowing export growth.
To go forward, Malaysia needs to make labor productivity and growth in consumption mutually reinforcing. To boost labor productivity, it needs to improve both the quality of workers and their market mobility. A more productive labor force will translate into higher household incomes, which will further stimulate private consumption. More consumption will encourage greater investment in services. And stronger investment, especially in startups, will make services a more powerful engine of employment growth.
Increasing investment in services would come with a bonus: quickening the evolution of Malaysia's digital economy. This is the new frontier(前线) for Malaysia's service sector. Getting there will prepare Malaysia for the prime time.
43. The underlined word "gauge" in Paragraph 2 is the closest in meaning to
.
A.the distance between two places |
B.an instrument for finding the size, quantity, etc. of something |
C.a fact or event that can be used to judge something |
D.something missing that prevents it from being complete or satisfactory |
44. To evaluate a country's economic growth, the service sector offers a more complete evaluation because
.
A.it shows how well labor force and consumer﹣sector develop |
B.developed countries depend entirely on services to prosper |
C.it includes jobs that require both basic and advanced skills |
D.growth in agriculture and manufacturing underlines the service sector |
45. Which of the following statement is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A.According to PISA, Malaysian students score higher in reading than science. |
B.Higher family incomes will help to increase labor productivity. |
C.Slower global economy didn't affect Malaysia's private consumption that much. |
D.Investment in services is likely to create more job opportunities. |
46. What can be the best title for this passage?
A.The Definition and Role of a Developed Country |
B.Developing Economy Is the Key to Joining OECD |
C.Malaysia Has to Further Develop Its Services |
D.People in Malaysia Need Better Education |