ARTICLES

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.

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

2 Apr 2026

Squeezed From Both Sides: Prabowo’s Fiscal Reckoning and Governance Implications

Yanuar Nugroho

Indonesia’s president is caught between a rock and a hard place fiscally and politically.

Indonesia Indonesian Economy Indonesian Politics

2 Mar 2026

From Long-term Plans to Flagships: Indonesia’s Reordered Development Agenda

Deasy Pane|Dharendra Wardhana

Prabowo’s agenda is being driven by flagship programmes focused on nutrition, state-owned enterprises, and cooperatives. These programmes can complement long-term development, but Indonesia should maintain industrial, technological, and green transition priorities.

Economic Development Indonesia Indonesian Economy

14 Jan 2026

Indonesia in 2026: Prabowo’s First ‘Real’ Year of Ambition and Why We Should Care

Yanuar Nugroho

On the policy front, what kind of year lies ahead for the Prabowo administration?

Indonesia Indonesian Economy

6 Jan 2026

Improving Indonesia’s Submarine Cable Resilience

I Gusti Bagus Dharma Agastia

Indonesia has a growing network of subsea communications cables. It needs to ramp up its capacity to bolster the resilience of such critical networks.

Indonesia Indonesian Economy Indonesian Politics