.. welcome to the mothership: Indonesia

Michael L. Bak

Dynamic Asia. Amazing Asia. Rising Asia. Wherever you turn, wherever you read, wherever you tweet, facebook or youtube, nothing could be as clear; Asia is where it’s at.  Action. Growth. Change. If Asia is the future, then welcome to the mothership: Indonesia.

China is dominating the world’s headlines and cover pages; are we now witnessing the fall of the West and the rise of the rest, or as The Economist most recently put it: “is America ready to be Number 2”? We’d be forgiven for instantly gazing China-ward. Even the OECD says China will become the number one economy in 2016; but there’s a whole lot of Asia out there that’s not the Middle Kingdom. It’s the Asian Century after all, and Indonesia is leading the charge.

Indonesia’s democratic credentials bolster its confidence in regional security and economic matters, from Myanmar’s transition to a more engaged and engaging Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Growing economically by leaps and bounds — many predict the land of the mystic Garuda will outpace China and India in 2013, barreling along at 6.3 percent this year. But the story of the Asian Century goes well beyond markets, per capitas, and growing middle classes.

Crucial to our story, Indonesia brings a seriously democratic (if not messy) government, fiercely independent (and wildly free) press, one of the world’s most diverse countries (in so many aspects), and a super-active civil society (masters of multi-platform activism). Malaysia may have staked a claim to “Truly Asia,” but Indonesia definitely gets the Oscar for animating the Asian Century.

With Indonesia’s colorful democracy leading, the Asian Century will tell the story of Southeast Asia breaking the bonds of socio-economic imperialism, ditching patronage and growing through enlightened governance.

Southeast Asia may look north for investment from China, and west for entrepreneurial inspiration from India, but it will look to its core, to Indonesia, to inspire it. Indonesia has led the way through a home-grown democratic experience, tried and failed and tried again approaches to audaciously blaze a new path. Transparency and accountability the mantra; cultural traditions of mutual cooperation, or gotong royong, the background.

Take note Myanmar. You’re facing many of the same challenges stared down and overcome by your southern neighbor: military dominance, poorly developed political traditions prior to an impressive transformation from authoritarianism, realizing an unlikely nation carved from colonial boundaries, frighteningly violent intergroup relations, and even excessively inward-looking religious fanatics.

Indonesia’s stunning achievements demonstrate that the Asian Century can move beyond the troika of woes: clans, cliques and clones.

Of clans: Inspired by direct elections, increasing Internet accessibility, Facebook fanaticism and the smart-phone revolution, Indonesians increasingly reject rule or advantage based upon clan allegiance. Family fiefdoms have lost their luster. We see more and more state agencies, at all levels, seeking the best and brightest of today’s generation to reform and build the institutions propelling the world’s fourth-most populous country onward to the heart of the Asian Century.

Of cliques: Indonesia has successfully shown that an Asian-grown democracy can eschew governance based on religious, social or political cliques. Governance is now about driving growth, inspiring youth and expanding social capital. Religious cliques — rejected. Business-party cliques — been there, done that. Military cliques — the way of the past, not the future. Where the reigns of policymaking remain in the hands of a few — call them religious super-elites, party elites, military school graduating classes or the old boy network — policymaking fails.

Cliques are fragile associations that wither and collapse under the weight of their own hubris and lack of innovation. Diversity — in the workplace, in the community and in the nation — proves crucial again and again to bolster economic and social capital.

Indonesia’s history of unity in diversity no longer remains the hollow rhetoric of a dictator’s cliquish regime. Overcoming socio-economic strife together, while at the same time building vibrant democratic institutions and unprecedented personal freedom, is today’s Indonesia. Indonesians have proven that diversity — of people and opinion — serves the nation the best.

Of Clones: Post-1997 Asian Financial Crisis, Indonesia opened the flood gates of foreign aid. But remade in the image of Western benefactors? No. Enlightened Indonesian officials smartly ensured adherence to the Paris Declaration (an Indonesian deputy interior minister handed me a highlighted copy) ensuring national ownership, south-south collaboration and equal partnership to a development agenda that benefits Indonesians. Period. Indonesians are not in the business of reshaping themselves in the image of any Western “advanced industrial” or democratic country. They’re building their own home and, you know, it looks pretty good.

While critics remain, enlightenment has prevailed. Indonesian democracy allows all civil society to flourish, and the messy politics of demonstrations and activist NGOs and clerics have all lent themselves to strengthening — not abandoning — the Indonesian dream of a democracy built upon the bedrock of ethno-religious and political diversity.

Political and civil leaders have eschewed any attempts by foreign powers to remake them in a foreign image; they have refused to be cloned, by whomever and for whatever reason. A powerful, home-grown example of how to benefit from globalization, maintain unique characteristics of a nation and its people, and build strong foundations that propel the country into the heart of the Asian Century.

Indonesians push beyond clans, cliques and clones, crucially developing their own independent system and path. A path that rejects conventionally held wisdom. A path that rejects the politics of cliques, rejects the primacy of clans and guards against foreign cloning — ensuring independence from all quarters, be they friendly governments, big business or international civil society.

Indonesia’s experience — for all its faults and bumpy potholes and the progress yet to be made — can and should become a beacon for Asean policymakers, business people and civil leaders to explore.

Indonesia is showing Asia how to cut its own path forward, and lead the triumphant charge of the Asian Century.

Michael L. Bak is creative and collaboration director at Strategic Asia, a consultancy promoting cooperation among Asian nations. A former longtime resident of Indonesia, he now lives in Bangkok and Hong Kong and can be contacted at michael.bak@strategic-asia.com.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/driving-the-asian-century-beyond-clans-cliques-clones-in-indonesia/

15 Years On, Indonesia Making Headway

By Dominic G. Diongson & Francezka Nangoy 

In the days leading up to Suharto’s stepping down from power on May 21, 1998, Indonesia was a nation in crisis.

Demonstrations against the authoritarian regime erupted in major cities across the country. Ethnic Chinese businessmen, fearful of attacks on their shops, hastily packed up their families and belongings, leaving their cars literally at the departure curbs of airports for flights out of the country.

About a year earlier Indonesia had allowed the rupiah to trade freely against the dollar, and the nation’s economy went into a downward spiral.

With the currency’s sudden depreciation, the costs to repay dollar-denominated loans soon more than doubled, and prices of overseas goods soared — sending the inflation rate skyrocketing.

Soon thereafter, the social fabric of Indonesia unraveled, as hundreds of thousands of people became jobless from the bankruptcies of many small and large businesses. Discontent toward the government started to spill over into the streets.

When Michel Camdessus, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund at the time, presided with his arms crossed and looming over a seated Suharto, who was signing conditions of a bailout, the public became livid at the perceived Western subjugation of Indonesia.

Now, peace dominates the landscape among the nation’s 33 provinces and more than 17,000 islands. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono became the first leader to be elected for a second term since Suharto’s fall from 32 years in power. Indonesia’s economy remains among the fastest-growing across the Asia-Pacific region, as many of its more than 240 million people are being lifted out of poverty and moving into the middle class.

Indonesia, like many of its neighbors in Southeast Asia, has recovered from the 1997-98 financial crisis, and there are signs of further progress. The nation has paid its $23 billion debt to the IMF in full, and the government’s finances, for the most part, are in order.

In a report last year, the IMF said that “Indonesia’s economic performance has been impressive in recent years.”

While the wheels of fortune have turned for the better for Southeast Asia, Western nations are mired in debt. Indonesia’s public debt-to-gross domestic product ratio has fallen to 23 percent from 76 percent in 2001 due to its policy of maintaining fiscal discipline.

At the same time, European nations such as Greece, Portugal and Ireland turn to the IMF, the European Commission and the European Central Bank with their debts exceeding GDP. The United States itself faces chronically high unemployment rate at almost 8 percent.

Indonesia has also focused on domestic spending to help boost economic growth. The nation’s unemployment rate has fallen to a record low of 5.9 percent, about half of what it was just eight years ago. Minimum wages have also been increasing in major cities across the nation.

“Democratization is maturing, and there are a lot of young entrepreneurs in the business world now,” said Sandiaga Uno, an Indonesian businessman who operates a private-equity firm.

“Economic policies are becoming more transparent, and economic growth is becoming more sustainable and more evenly distributed,” he said.

As part of the nation’s initiative known as Reformasi in 1999 to transform Indonesia’s political, social and economic systems, regional governments have been given more power, allowing their provinces to thrive and develop.

There is greater transparency as well, with people more freely able to discuss subjects such as criticism of the president and institutions, once off-limits. Political parties are now free to form, and the media plays an important role in both informing the public and acting as a watchdog.

The National Social Security System (SJSN) Law, approved in 2004, has paved the way for the establishment of five social security programs: health insurance, employment injury, pension, old-age savings and death benefits.

There is also greater transparency in how the government performs its duties and conducts its business.

The formation of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has helped to root out rampant graft, a trait that was endemic during Suharto’s reign.

At the same time, though, Islamic radicalism — suppressed during the Suharto era — is gaining ground.

While the rule of law is yet to take hold firmly, the country is also moving in the right direction on this front.

“Why so pessimistic?”

Muslimah Festival by FKM UI

Ada kegiatan seru di Fakultas Kesehatan Masyarakat Universitas Indonesia (FKM UI). Check this out.

Tema Kegiatan

I am Muslimah, beautiful, smart, healthy, and shalihah

Tujuan Kegiatan

è Memupuk rasa bangga sebagai seorang muslimah yang berkarakter (cantik, cerdas, sehat, shalihah)

è Mengajak muslimah untuk menjaga kecantikan, kecerdasan, kesehatan dan keshalihan diri menuju pernikahan

è Melatih dan membudayakan peran muslimah dalam memunculkan bakat dan potensi diri muslimah di berbagai bidang

è Mengajak muslimah dan wanita pada umumnya untuk tanggap mengenai isu pelecehan seksual terhadap perempuan saat ini

Acara Festival:

1. 1.  Bazar Muslimah

Waktu : Rabu-Sabtu, 1-3 Mei 2013

Tempat : Bawah Pohon Mangga (BPM) FKM UI

Tema : Khazanah muslimah, perhiasan dunia dan surga

Bazar dengan jenis dan kualitas terbaik menyediakan berbagai kebutuhan dalam bentuk makanan, buku, pernak-pernik, elektronik, dan konsultasi kecantikan dan kesehatan. Indikator keberhasilan dari bazar ini adalah dilihat dari antusias pengunjung yang dapat dilihat dari jumlah pengunjung mencapai 150 orang setiap harinya dan keuntungan yang mencapai Rp 2.000.000,00.

 2. Lomba Muslimah

 -          Lomba Essay

Pendaftaran : 8-24 April 2013

Batas Pengumpulan : 26 April 2013

Lomba essay kali ini bertema “Hijabku, Perisai Kehormatanku” memuat gagasan inovatif sebagai solusi dalam menjawab fenomena maraknya kasus pelecehan seksual terhadap wanita saat ini. Output yang diinginkan dari lomba ini adalah mendapatkan berbagai gagasan atau ide inovatif yang dapat dikemas serta diajukan kepada pihak terkait (Kementerian Pemberdayaan Perempuan ataupun Komisi Perlindungan Anak dan Perempuan). Indikator keberhasilan dari lomba ini dilihat dari jumlah karya ilmiah yang diterima mencapai 50 essay.

Syarat Peserta :

Peserta adalah perempuan muslimah berstatus mahasiswa/pelajar/umum

Pendaftaran :

1. Pendaftaran lomba esai dibuka pada tanggal 8-24 April 2013
2. Peserta wajib melakukan pendaftaran melalui sms dengan format: Mufest_Esai_Nama Lengkap_asal universitas/sekolah/instansi kirim ke Fuzna (085292168515)
3. Setelah mendapat konfirmasi, peserta dikenai biaya pendaftaran sebesar Rp. 25.000, – (dua puluh lima ribu rupiah) dan dikirim melalui rekening BNI 0227525668 a.n. Desy Safitri paling lambat pada hari terakhir pendaftaran
4. Setelah mentransfer biaya pendaftaran, peserta harus mengkonfirmasi kepada Fuzna (085292168515) dengan mencatumkan nama dan tanggal pembayaran. Scan bukti pembayaran dapat dilampirkan pada saat pengiriman karya.

Hadiah :

1. Juara 1 Rp 500.000,- & sertifikat
2. Juara 2 Rp 300.000,- & sertifikat
3. Juara 3 Rp 200.000,- & sertifikat

Ketentuan :

1. Tema esai  “Hijabku, perisai kehormatanku”
2. Panjang esai maksimal 500-800 kata
3. Orisinil, belum pernah dipublikasikan, tidak mengandung SARA.
4. Dikirim dalam bentuk softcopy dengan format sebagai berikut:

• Jenis File: Microsoft Word dengan ekstensi file .doc
• Font: Times New Roman (12 pt)
• Ukuran Kertas: A4
• Margin: Left: 4, Right: 3, Top: 3 cm, Bottom: 3 cm
• Spasi: 1,5. Essai berbentuk opini dan sesuai dengan tema
• Dikirim melaui email mufest.2013@gmail.com

Pengumuman pemenang

1. Dewan juri akan menetapkan juara 1, 2, dan 3
2. Pemenang akan diumumkan pada acara talkshow muslimah festival
3. Setiap peserta yang telah mengirimkan hasil karyanya akan mendapatkan sertifikat dari panitia.

-         Lomba Desain Busana Muslimah

Pendaftaran : 8-24 April 2013

Batas Pengumpulan : 26 April 2013

Tema yang diusung dalam lomba desain busana muslimah kali ini adalah “Syar’i, cantik, mempesona dengan corak budaya dalam berhijab dengan paduan gaya modern” berupa desain gambar tangan busana-busana muslimah syar’i. Indikator keberhasilan dari lombaa ini dilihat dari jumlah desain yang diterima mencapai 50 desain.

Syarat Peserta :

Peserta adalah perempuan muslimah berstatus pelajar/mahasiswa/umum

Pendaftaran :

1. Pendaftaran lomba desain dibuka pada tanggal 8-24 April 2013
2. Peserta wajib melakukan pendaftaran melalui sms dengan format: Mufest_Desain_Nama Lengkap_asal universitas/sekolah/instansi kirim ke Nurul (083807954981)
3. Setelah mendapat konfirmasi, peserta dikenai biaya pendaftaran sebesar Rp. 25.000, – (dua puluh lima ribu rupiah) dan dikirim melalui rekening BNI 0227525668 a.n. Desy Safitri paling lambat pada hari terakhir pendaftaran
4. Setelah mentransfer biaya pendaftaran, peserta harus mengkonfirmasi kepada Nurul (083807954981) dengan mencatumkan nama dan tanggal pembayaran. Scan bukti pembayaran dapat dilampirkan pada saat pengiriman karya

Hadiah :

1. Juara 1 Rp 500.000,- & sertifikat
   1. Juara 2 Rp 300.000,- & sertifikat
   2. Juara 3 Rp 200.000,- & sertifikat

Untuk pendaftaran via sms ketik MuFest_essay_nama lengkap_asal kirim ke 085292168515

Ketentuan Lomba :

1. Tema desain  “ Syar’i, cantik, mempesona, dengan corak budaya dalam berhijab, dengan paduan gaya modern”
2. Hasil karya sesuai dengan tema
3. Sketsa dibuat dan diwarnai dengan tangan
4. Hasil sketsa di scan maksimal dengan ukuran 1-2 MB
5. Desain lengkap dengan rincian jenis kain yang digunakan untuk menjahit
6. Karya disertai dengan file berisi nama peserta, judul desain, dan deskripsi dari desain yang dibuat (cerita singkat) dalam A4 (maksimal 2 lembar, margin atas dan bawah 3 cm; margin kiri 4 cm; margin kanan 3 cm; huruf Times New Roman; ukuran 12 poin; rata kiri-kanan (justify); spasi 1,5)
7. Karya hasil pribadi, orisinil, bukan plagiarism, dan belum pernah di ikut sertakan di lomba manapun

Pengumpulan :

1. Pengumpulan karya dalam bentuk softcopy melalui email ke alamat mufest.2013@gmail.com dengan subjek: Nama Lengkap_Lomba yang diikuti (co. Putri Anisa_Lomba Desain)
2. Pengumpulan karya dimulai tanggal 8-21 April 2013

Pengumuman Pemenang :

1. Dewan juri akan menetapkan juara 1, 2, dan 3
2. Pemenang akan diumumkan pada acara talkshow muslimah festival
3. Setiap peserta yang telah mengirimkan hasil karyanya akan mendapatkan sertifikat dari panitia

-         Lomba Fotografi

Pendaftaran : 8-24 April 2013

Batas Pengumpulan : 26 April 2013

Lomba fotografi ini bertemakan ” Alam, Inspirasi Cantik dan Shalihah Seorang Muslimah” dengan konten di dalamnya meliputi pesona alam ataupun fenomena-fenomena atau gambaran dari tema yang ditentukan. Indikator keberhasilan dari lomba ini dilihat dari jumlah foto yang diterima mencapai 50 foto.

Syarat Peserta :

1. Peserta adalah muslimah berstatus mahasiswa/pelajar/umum
2. Foto yang dilombakan merupakan karya perorangan peserta
3. Peserta wajib memahami lomba dan menyepakati seluruh ketentuan lomba
4. Dapat mengikutsertakan maksimal 2 karya (hanya salah satu karya yang menjadi juara untuk peserta yang sama)

Pendaftaran :

1. Pendaftaran lomba fotografi dibuka pada tanggal 8-24 April 2013
2. Peserta wajib melakukan pendaftaran melalui sms dengan format: Mufest_Fotografi_Nama Lengkap_asal universitas/sekolah/instansi ke Desy (083873142896)
3. Setelah mendapat konfirmasi, peserta dikenai biaya pendaftaran sebesar Rp. 25.000, – (dua puluh lima ribu rupiah) dan dikirim melalui rekening BNI 0227525668 a.n. Desy Safitri paling lambat pada hari terakhir pendaftaran.
4. Setelah mentransfer biaya pendaftaran, peserta harus mengkonfirmasi pembayaran kepada Desy (083873142896) dengan mencantumkan nama dan tanggal pembayaran

Pengumpulan :

1. Pengumpulan karya dalam bentuk softcopy melalui email dengan alamat email pengirim yang aktif
2. Pengumpulan karya tanggal 8-26 April 2013
3. Karya di kirim ke alamat mufest.2013@gmail.com dengan subjek: Nama Lengkap_Lomba yang diikuti (co. Putri Anisa_Lomba Fotografi)

Ketentuan Lomba:

1. Foto lomba adalah original yang merupakan hasil karya sendiri dan belum pernah diikutkan dalam lomba sejenis
2. Tema foto “Pesona Alam Inspirasi Cantik dan Sehatmu”
3. Jenis kamera bebas
4. Peserta diijinkan melakukan pengolahan digital sebatas saturation, brightness, dan contrass dan tidak diperkenankan  melakukan penambahan atau pengurangan konten foto
5. Foto dalam format JPG dengan sisi panjang 1500 skala 6
6. Karya disertai dengan file berisi nama peserta, judul, lokasi pemotretan dan narasi foto dalam A4 (maksimal 2 lembar, margin atas dan bawah 3 cm; margin kiri 4 cm; margin kanan 3 cm; huruf  Times New Roman; ukuran 12 poin; rata kiri-kanan (justify); spasi 1,5)
7. Foto yang sudah dikirimkan menjadi hak milik panitia dan keputusan juri tidak dapat diganggu gugat
8. Hasil karya tidak boleh berbau pornografi, menyinggung SARA dan melanggar norma agama.

Pengumuman pemenang

1. Dewan juri akan menetapkan juara 1, 2, dan 3
2. Pemenang akan diumumkan pada acara talkshow muslimah festival
3. Setiap peserta yang telah mengirimkan hasil karyanya akan mendapatkan sertifikat dari panitia

-      Lomba Pidato

Pendaftaran : 8-24 April 2013

Batas Pengumpulan : 26 April 2013

Lomba pidato ini mengangkat tema “Aku Bangga Menjadi Seorang Muslimah” dengan peserta berasal dari berbagai fakultas, universitas, dan sekolah di Jabodetabek. Indikator keberhasilan dari lomba ini adalah jumlah peserta mencapai 25 orang.

Syarat Peserta :

Peserta adalah perempuan muslimah berstatus pelajar/mahasiswa/umum

Pendaftaran :

1. Pendaftaran lomba pidato dibuka pada tanggal 8-24 April 2013
2. Peserta wajib melakukan pendaftaran melalui sms dengan format: Mufest_Desain_Nama Lengkap_asal universitas/sekolah/instansi kirim ke Hanan (085715803473)
3. Setelah mendapat konfirmasi, peserta dikenai biaya pendaftaran sebesar Rp. 25.000, – (dua puluh lima ribu rupiah) dan dikirim melalui rekening BNI 0227525668 a.n. Desy Safitri paling lambat pada hari terakhir pendaftaran
4. Setelah mentransfer biaya pendaftaran, peserta harus mengkonfirmasi kepada Hanan (085715803473) dengan mencatumkan nama dan tanggal pembayaran. Scan bukti pembayaran dapat diberikan pada saat lomba.

Pelaksanaan Lomba:

Lomba pidato akan dilaksanakan pada tanggal 1 Mei 2013

Ketentuan Lomba:

1.Tema lomba pidato “Aku Bangga Menjadi Muslimah”

2.peserta menyiapkan naskah pidato yang sudah diketik pada kertas A4 (margin atas dan bawah 3 cm; margin kiri 4 cm; margin kanan 3 cm; huruf  Times New Roman; ukuran 12 poin; rata kiri-kanan (justify); spasi 1,5).

3.Peserta menyerahkan naskah pidato sebanyak 4 rangkap (1 asli dan 3 fotocopy) pada hari H lomba pidato kepada panitia.

4.Naskah pidato menjadi hak milik panitia dan keputusan juri tidak dapat diganggu gugat.

Pengumuman pemenang

1.Dewan juri akan menetapkan juara 1, 2, dan 3.

2.Pemenang akan diumumkan pada acara talkshow muslimah festival.

Hadiah :

1. Juara 1 Rp 500.000,- & sertifikat
2. Juara 2 Rp 300.000,- & sertifikat
3.  Juara 3 Rp 200.000,- & sertifikat

3. Talk Show Pra-Nikah

Waktu : Sabtu, 4 Mei, 09.00-13.00

Tempat : Aula A FKM UI

Tema : “Preparing for the Prepared”

Talk show berupa tatap muka yang membahas tentang mempersiapkan diri sebaik mungkin menuju pernikahan. Persiapan menuju pernikahan bukan hanya sekedar materi semata, melainkan juga persiapan dalam berbagai hal seperti kesehatan, baik fisik ataupun psikologis, kecantikan luar dan dalam, serta bagaimana persiapan-persiapan manajemen kehidupan setelah pernikahan nantinya sebagai bekal menuju pernikahan seiring penantian sehingga diharakan peserta memiliki ilmu dalam hal mempersiapkan segala yang terbaik dalam pernikahan, selain itu juga mendapatkan ilmu dan pengalaman dari beberapa narasumber. Talk show ini disertai dengan pemutaran sebuah film pendek tentang tema yang dibahas dalam talkshow tersebut. Indikator keberhasilan dari kegiatan ini dilihat dari antusiasme peserta terhadap talkshow ini yang ditunjukkan dengan jumlah peserta talkshow mencapai 300 orang.

Menghadirkan

1. Asma Nadia, penulis buku ternama
2. Bunda Noveldy, penulis buku ‘Menikah Untuk Bahagia’

Indonesia: 10th Largest Economy By 2025?

By Anthony Harrington

When you are the world’s fourth most populous country, with over 238 million citizens, it makes sense to think in terms of lifting your game and moving from being the 16th biggest economy in the world to breaking into the world’s top 10. This is indeed the target that Indonesia has set for itself, and it has given itself just 12 and a bit years to achieve its goal. According to a far reaching report on Indonesia by the OECD, Indonesia can expect real GDP to grow by around 6% for 2012, with this level continuing through 2013. Moreover, unlike China, which is still struggling to shift from export driven growth to a more balanced economy, Indonesia’s growth is being boosted by strong domestic demand.

One of the things that the Indonesian government is currently getting wrong, according to the OECD, is the scale of the subsidies it is providing on fuel. “A substantial reduction in energy subsidies, which fail to achieve their social goals and have significant fiscal costs, would free up resources for pressing social and economic needs,” it says. However, the OECD does realize that the country’s economy, spread as it is among over 17,500 islands, needs a system of cash transfers from the richer to the poorer, to prevent the scourge of poverty from blighting the economy.

If this is done skilfully, then cash transfers could help to balance the negative impact on the poor of the withdrawal of fuel subsidies, the OECD argues. Politicians on the ground, of course, frequently differ vehemently from economists who are located thousands of miles away and have only an academic grasp of what they are calling for. But there is now considerable pressure from various sustainability bodies for both food and agriculture subsidies to be withdrawn by governments generally. Current thinking is to urge governments to find other kinds of safety nets, since there is a realization that policies that set out to control global market prices or to mitigate global market prices create massive distortions in local economies and can cause really bad local decision making. “Bad” here means bad both in terms of local effects on markets and in terms of the adverse impact on sustainability initiatives.

What Indonesia really needs to do, the OECD says, is to improve its tax system and the way it administers and collects taxes. Going after high net worth individuals to ensure that they pay their due taxes, while also broadening the tax base, would be hugely beneficial. The OECD is also arguing for a sub-minimum wage for young workers to try to tackle the problem of youth unemployment. It also wants to see Indonesia being a little less generous with “tax holidays” for companies in pioneer start up areas of the economy.

Where the OECD does want to see Indonesia applying some stimulus is in infrastructure spending. The country could do more in this area, provided it supports cost effective policies. The economy is the fifth largest in Asia, and Indonesia has made significant progress in relieving poverty and improving education since the Asian crisis in 1997-98. Strong policy management has had a beneficial impact on improving the economy and liberalizing the international trade regime. Small firms have accounted for most of the new jobs in the country since then and are responsible for some 50% of the growth in production, the OECD says. However, current growth is not yet at the 7-10% a year level that Indonesia will need to achieve its strategic goal of becoming the world’s 10th largest economy by 2025. The OECD report concludes that boosting productivity while at the same time paying attention to ways of mitigating rising inequality will be key to ensuring that Indonesia’s growing economic power brings benefits to all.

http://seekingalpha.com

Media can be a great force for the nation’s ad

JAKARTA,UMN – Two senior journalists and a media experts talks about media in Indonesia at a seminar in a topic titled, “The importance of Building Peace Journalisme through Informations and Educations contents” on Pekan Komunikasi at University of Indonesia, Tuesday (6/3). They are Senior Editor Kompas daily Budiarto Shambazy, ex-editor in chief Liputan 6 SCTV Rosiana Silalahi and Founder of Goodnews From Indonesia (GNFI) Akhyari Hananto. Moderated by Inaya Rakhmani, lecture in University of Indonesia. Each of them give their personal insight about media in Indonesia.