ARTICLES

7 Sep 2026

Indonesia’s Nickel Strategy Needs to Grow the Pie, Not Divide It

Muyi Yang|Dody Setiawan|Dinita Setyawati

The Indonesian government is seeking to capture a bigger slice of resource revenues, particularly from nickel. A better way to grow the sector would be to upgrade it and broaden industrial capabilities.

25 Aug 2026

The Indonesia-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade: Three Views on its Economic and Strategic Impacts

Iman Pambagyo|Arianto Patunru|Deasy Pane

The Indonesia-US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade was signed on 19 February 2026 but has yet to be ratified by Indonesia. In this Long Read, three experts from the government and from academia share their views on the potential impacts of the agreement on Indonesia’s economy, trade relations, domestic policy, and reform direction.

Indonesia Indonesia-US Relations Indonesian Economy

20 Aug 2026

Indonesia’s Green Industrialisation Plans Have a Brown Problem

Peh Ko Hsu|Siwage Dharma Negara

Indonesia has managed to surpass targets for renewable energy. The problem, however, is that green sources of energy continue to exist with their brown counterparts.

Energy Environment Indonesia Indonesian Economy Renewable Energy

11 Aug 2026

Different Sectors, Same Direction: Indonesia’s Quiet Recentralisation

Yanuar Nugroho

Indonesia’s revised financial omnibus law reflects a broader trend towards executive recentralisation, renewing concerns over institutional independence and accountability.

Indonesia Indonesian Economy Indonesian Politics

21 Jul 2026

When the Indonesian Middle Class Takes to the Streets

Chatib Basri|Maria Monica Wihardja|Abror Tegar Pradana

Empirical evidence shows that a shrinking middle class in Indonesia has led to a growing number of protests. This is pertinent not only to Indonesia, but for other countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines.

Indonesia Indonesian Economy

14 Jul 2026

The Politics of Indonesia’s Fiscal Recentralisation: Public Views on Regional Transfer Cuts

Burhanuddin Muhtadi

Indonesia’s central government risks incurring public dissatisfaction with its cuts to regional budgets. If left unchecked, the president’s re-election prospects might dim in time.

Indonesia Indonesian Economy Indonesian Politics

15 Jun 2026

Prabowo’s Nickel State: Indonesia’s Search for Power

Kevin Zongzhe Li

Will the Prabowo administration's agenda of centralisation and state control over the nickel sector build lasting industrial capacity, or be even more extractive?

Indonesia Indonesian Economy

10 Jun 2026

Indonesia’s Resource Nationalism Is Testing Its Relationship with China

Siwage Dharma Negara|Leo Suryadinata

The interests of Chinese investors and the Prabowo administration are increasingly misaligned.

China-Indonesia Relations Indonesia Indonesian Economy

3 Jun 2026

Indonesia’s 5.61 Per Cent: Growth for the State, Not for the People

Yanuar Nugroho

Is Indonesia’s growth rate an accurate reflection of the country’s progress?

Indonesia Indonesian Economy Indonesian Politics

23 Apr 2026

Danantara’s Patriot Bond and the Unchanged Role of Chinese-Indonesian Conglomerates

Leo Suryadinata|Siwage Dharma Negara

The Patriot Bond issued by Danantara shows that Indonesia’s economic nationalism under Prabowo is a repackaging of long-standing state–business ties using new financial instruments. The dominance of Chinese Indonesian conglomerates among Patriot Bond subscribers highlights their enduring role in Indonesia’s political economy.

Indonesia Indonesian Economy Indonesian Politics