Research
Research themes
Trade and industry
Research on trade and industry has long been a high priority for Project staff and PhD students. This work has included detailed studies of the trade policy regime (including pioneering estimates of effective rates of protection), the political economy of protection, sector-specific trade policies, export performance, Indonesia in the regional and global economy, general overviews of the industrial sector, the structure and performance of industry, industrial dynamics before and after crisis episodes, and industry case studies.
Politics and governance
Fifteen years after Indonesia began its transition to becoming the world’s third most populous democracy, democratic governance in the country has recorded remarkable achievements. For example, Indonesia is now judged by international agencies such as Freedom House to be the most democratic country in Southeast Asia.
Agriculture, resources and the environment
the poor out of poverty and generate overall economic growth. On the other hand, bad policy decisions in these areas could trap millions of Indonesians in poverty, diminish the opportunity for growth, and cause lasting damage to natural systems. Developing appropriate policies is not always straightforward.
Social policy and human capital
Investment in human capital and public service delivery remain major policy concerns in Indonesia. Both public and private spending on health is relatively low, while the large increase in public spending on education in the past decade has yet to yield any positive impact. In addition, human capital investments in Indonesia face substantial challenges with regards to governance, inequality in access to public services, and quality of education and health care.