Andrew is an applied micro-economist, with ongoing research and interests in consumer & household demand and health economics. His work in health economics includes identifying the socio-demographic determinants of body weight status, cancer screening, metabolic syndrome, physical activity participation, fruits and vegetables consumption, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Born and bred in Penang, Malaysia, Andrew spent his formative years at the Francis Light School 1 (’78) and Penang Free School (’85). He holds B.A. in Economics from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (’88), and both M.S. (’91) and Ph.D. (‘94) in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University.
Andrew began his career in academia at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in 1994 and is currently Professor of Economics since 2015. Throughout his tenure at USM, he taught various courses, with primary responsibilities on undergraduate level Microeconomics and graduate level Resource and Environmental Economics.
To date, Andrew has consulted for Bank Negara Malaysia, WorldFish Center, Socio-Economic Research Institute (SERI), and DCT Consultancy Services (Penang) Sdn. Bhd. He was also appointed as Research Fellow by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore and Visiting Professor by El Colegio de Mexico.
Apart from being an academician, Andrew was also the USM men and women’s varsity volleyball coach from 1994–2006. He was Head Coach of the Malaysian women and men’s volleyball teams to the 10th (Bangkok, Thailand in 1999) and 12th (Surabaya, Indonesia in 2004) ASEAN University Games, respectively.
Andrew is currently residing in the island paradise cum foodie haven of Penang (Malaysia) with his wife and two lovely daughters (Allyssa & Allynna). He is an avid fan of the National Football League (NFL), particularly of the Green Bay Packers. "Go Pack Go!!!!"
“(The) ultimate goal of pursuing knowledge is to give it all away” – Karndee Leopairote
Selected Publications
Forthcoming
Yen, S.T., Tan, A.K.G. and Feisul, M.I. "Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables in Malaysia: Profiling the Daily and Non-Daily Consumers." Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. Accepted for publication.
Tan, A.K.G., Yen, S.T., Hasan, A.R. and Muhamed, K. "Determinants of Purchase Likelihoods and Amounts Spent on Meat in Malaysia: A Sample Selection System Approach." Agricultural and Resource Economics Review. Accepted for publication.
2014
Jelani, J., Tan, A.K.G. and Mohd-Zaharim, N. (2014). "Demand for Extracurricular Activities Among Primary School Students: Exploratory Evidence from Survey Data in Penang (Malaysia)." The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher. 24(1): 125–135.
Tan, A.K.G., Yen, S.T., Hasan, A.R. and Muhamed, K. (2014). "Demand for Life Insurance in Malaysia: An Ethnic Comparison Using Household Expenditure Survey Data." Asia-Pacific Journal of Risk and Insurance. 8(2): 179–204.
Cheah, Y.K. and Tan, A.K.G. (2014). "Determinants of Leisure Time Physical Activity: Evidence from Malaysia." The Singapore Economic Review. 59(2): (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0217590814500179).
2013
Tan, A.K.G., Yen, S.T. and Feisul, M.I. (2013). "The Association Between Smoking and Body Mass Index: Results from a National Sample of Malaysian Adults." Journal of Public Health. 21(5): 403–412.
Loke, Y.J., Yen, S.H., Tan, A.K.G. and Lai, Y.W. (2013). "Do Businesses Exhibit Payment Preferences as Payors? Evidence from Malaysia." Malaysian Journal of Economic Studies. 50(1): 37–52.
Loke, Y.J., Yen, S.T. and Tan, A.K.G. (2013). "Credit Ownership and Debt Status in Malaysia." The Singapore Economic Review. 58(3): http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0217590813500161.
2012
Yen, S.T. and Tan, A.K.G. (2012). "Who are Eating and Not Eating Fruits and Vegetables in Malaysia?" International Journal of Public Health. 57(6): 945–951.
Dunn, R.A., Tan, A.K.G. and Nayga, R.M. (2012). "Obesity Inequality in Malaysia: Decomposing Differences by Gender and Ethnicity Using Quantile Regression." Ethnicity & Health. 17(5): 493–511.
Tan, A.K.G., Yen, S.T. and Feisul, M.I. (2012). “Determinants of Body Weight Status in Malaysia: An Ethnic Comparison.” International Journal of Public Health. 57(2): 279–288. [Abstract]
Tan, A.K.G. (2012). “Distinguishing Between Non-smokers, Casual Smokers, and Compulsive Smokers: Evidence from Malaysia.” Atlantic Economic Journal. 40: 173–184.
Jelani, J. and Tan, A.K.G. (2012). “Determinants of Participation and Expenditure Patterns of Private Tuition Received by Primary School Students in Penang, Malaysia: An Exploratory Study." Asia Pacific Journal of Education. 32(1): 35–51. [Abstract]
2011
Tan, A.K.G., Yen, S.T. and Loke, Y.J. (2011). "Credit Card Holders, Convenience Users and Revolvers: A Tobit Model with Binary Selection and Ordinal Treatment." Journal of Applied Economics.14(2): 225–255. [Abstract]
Loke, Y.J., Yen, S.T. and Tan, A.K.G. (2011). "Credit Card Averters and Amassers: Evidence from Malaysia." Asian Economic Journal. 25(4): 397–412. [Abstract]
Tan, A.K.G., Dunn, R.A. and Yen, S.T. (2011). “Ethnic Disparities in Metabolic Syndrome in Malaysia: An Analysis by Risk Factors.” Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. 9(6): 441–451. [Abstract]
Teoh, Z.M. and Tan, A.K.G. (2011). “Determinants of Library Use Amongst University Students.” Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Sciences. 16(2): 21–31. 
Yen, S.T., Tan, A.K.G. and Nayga, Jr., R.M. (2011). “Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Malaysia: An Ordinal System Approach.” The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. 55: 239–256. [Abstract]
Dunn, R.A. and Tan, A.K.G. (2011). “Utilization of Breast Cancer Screening Methods in a Developing Nation: Results from a Nationally Representative Sample of Malaysian Households.” The Breast Journal. 17(4): 399–402. [Abstract]
Tan, A.K.G., Dunn, R.A., Samad, M.I.A. and Feisul, M.I. (2011). “Socio-demographic and Health-lifestyle Determinants of Obesity Risks in Malaysia.” Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. 23(2): 192–202. Published on 10 May 2010 as doi:10.1177/1010539509359535. [Abstract]
2010
Dunn, R.A. and Tan, A.K.G. (2010). "Cervical Cancer Screening in Malaysia: Are Targeted Interventions Necessary?" Social Science & Medicine. 71(6): 1089–1093.
Ong, W.L. and Tan, A.K.G. (2010). "A Note on the Determinants of Airline Choice: The Case of Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines." Journal of Air Transport Management. 16(4): 209–212.
Dunn, R.A., Tan, A.K.G. and Samad, M.I.A. (2010). "Does Performance of Breast Self-Exams Increase the Probability of Using Mammography: Evidence from Malaysia." Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 11: 417–421.
Tan, A.K.G. (2010). "Demand for Food-Away-From-Home in Malaysia: A Sample Selection Analysis by Ethnicity and Gender." Journal of Foodservice Business Research. 13(3): 252–267.
Tan, A.K.G., Yen, S.T. and Nayga, Jr. R.M. (2010). "Socio-Demographic Determinants of Gambling Participation and Expenditures: Evidence from Malaysia." International Journal of Consumer Studies. 34(3): 316–325.
Quah, S.H. and Tan, A.K.G. (2010). "Consumer Purchase Decisions of Organic Food Products: An Ethnic Analysis." Journal of International Consumer Marketing. 22(1): 47–58.
updated: 3 March 2014
Research Grants
(Title; Granting agency; Collaborators; Term; Status)
A Study on the Purchase Likelihoods and Expenditure Patterns of Selected Household Items in Malaysia; Universiti Sains Malaysia Research University (RU) grant; (with Ch'ng Kean Siang); 2013-2015; On-going.
Determinants of Learning Management System (LMS) Use Among Students in Open Distance Learning Institutions: The Case of Wawasan Open University; Wawasan Open University Research Grant; (with Ng Peng Long); 2012-2015; On-going.
Production of Tocopherols, Organic Acids, Bio-Ethanol, Bio-Adhesive and Bio-Corrosion Inhibitors from Oil Palm Frond; Universiti Sains Malaysia Research University (RU) grant; (with Mohamad Nasir B. Mohamad Ibrahim et al.); 2011-2015; On-going.
An Investigation of the Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases in Malaysia: A Health Economics Perspective; Universiti Sains Malaysia Research University (RU) grant; (with Ch’ng Kean Siang); 2011-2014; Completed.
Determinants of Non-Communicable Diseases in Malaysia: An Economic Analysis; Universiti Sains Malaysia Research University (RU) grant; Principal Researcher; 2008-2011; Completed.
The Determinants of Credit Cards Demand in Malaysia: An Exploratory Study of Three Major Cities; Universiti Sains Malaysia Short Term grant; (with Loke Yiing Jia); 2008-2010; Completed.
Examining Malaysian Household Expenditure Patterns on Gambling; Universiti Sains Malaysia Short Term grant; Principal Researcher; 2006-2008; Completed.
Examining Malaysian Consumer Decisions and Expenditure Patterns on Selected Consumer Products: A Study on Fish and Seafood; Universiti Sains Malaysia Short Term grant; Principal Researcher; 2004-2005; Completed.
Awards & Recognitions
(Name of award/recognition; Granting agency; Date)
Nominated for the Anugerah Akademik Negara 2013 (National Academic Awards 2013): Journal publications category; Ministry of Education Malaysia; September 2014.
Nominated for the Anugerah Akademik Negara 2012 (National Academic Awards 2012): Journal publications category; Ministry of Education Malaysia; August 2013.
Anugerah Sanggar Sanjung; Universiti Sains Malaysia; 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Hadiah Sanggar Sanjung; Universiti Sains Malaysia; 2009, 2010, 2011.
Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (Excellent Service Award) 2011/2012; Universiti Sains Malaysia; 2012.
Excellence Award in Teaching; School of Social Sciences; Universiti Sains Malaysia; 2004-2007, 2009-2011.
Excellence Award in Coaching (Volleyball); Universiti Sains Malaysia; 2003/2004.
