Analysis of Malaysia’s Smart Cities’ Impact on Income, Expenditure, and Social Capital

Smart cities are able to automate routine functions towards improving quality of life (Piro et al., 2014); (Batty et al., 2012). While the smart cities are filled with firms experiencing higher rates of return, the impact on marginalised lower income group are negatively impacted due to the changes in urban landscape which cause “spirals of gentrification” which then led to “geographical polarisation” (Graham, 2002; Hollands, 2008). This study analysed secondary data and found increasingly income inequality – households are earning higher income but income distribution and gap are increasing. Social capital accumulation, housing, and expenditure gaps are increasingly observed in Penang, Johor, and the Greater Kuala Lumpur region.