TWO thirds of Malaysians expect a better year in 2023. However, expectations are not matching the optimism ahead of 2022, a study from Ipsos Group SA reveals.

Ipsos associate director of public affairs Lars Erik Liec said at the onset of 2022, optimism was high, with people looking forward to a gradual return to normalcy as Covid finally receded.

Instead, he said, 2022 brought with it new uncertainties, with geopolitical instability and global supply chains struggling to catch up with the reopening of economies.

“When we turn the page to 2023, people in Malaysia and across the world are more cautious about the new year than they were one year ago.

“Rising cost of living continues to be a major concern, while the fear of stock market volatility is much stronger than it was at the same time last year.

“Uncertainty is expected to continue across the economy — both in Malaysia and globally, there are widely held expectations of higher inflation, interest rates unemployment to be higher in 2023 than 2022. 

This view is largely shared by global peers, Ipsos said. — TMR

• This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition