What went wrong in Indonesia’s COVID-19 responses and what can be done
December 7, 2020
I Nyoman Sutarsa (ANU) , I Made Ady Wirawan (Universitas Udayana), and Putu Ayu Swandewi Astuti (University of Sydney)
This article was published by The Jakarta Post
After nine months of constant battles with the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s most populous country, is losing. Since Indonesia declared its first cases in March, the pandemic has continued unabated. We analyze at least three factors in the government’s poor COVID-19 response in the past nine months and recommend ways to fix this.
Managing expectations for COVID-19 vaccine
December 1, 2020
Panji Hadisoemarto (Centre for Sustainable Development Goals, Universitas Padjadjaran)
This article was first published by The Jakarta Post
Vaccines are most likely not going to help much in Indonesia’s fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, so keeping expectations low is probably the best thing we can do. It all boils down to the low likelihood that our vaccination strategy will achieve herd immunity: immunizing a certain proportion of the population against a disease so that everyone – the herd – is protected.
Australia’s A$1.5 billion COVID-related loan to Indonesia
November 14, 2020
Peter McCawley (ANU)
This article was first published by Asialink, University of Melbourne
The Australian Government has unexpectedly announced that Australia will make a $ 1.5 billion COVID-related support loan to Indonesia. Australia’s assistance program to Indonesia has lagged somewhat in recent years. Indeed, the fall in support to Indonesia had begun to attract comment. But in one stroke, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s announcement late last week significantly strengthened Australia’s economic diplomacy in Southeast Asia.
COVID-19 and food systems in Indonesia
November 14, 2020
John F. McCarthy (ANU), Yunita Triwardani Winarto (University of Indonesia), Henri Sitorus (University of North Sumatra), Pande Made Kutanegara (University of Gajah Mada), Vania Budianto (Australian National University)
This assessment examines the emerging impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security and rural livelihoods in Indonesia. Focusing on five key production contexts across this highly diverse archipelago, the assessment finds that COVID-19 is having profound, variable and highly dynamic impacts on rural livelihoods. The impacts differ across geographical areas and production systems, depending upon how the effects of the pandemic articulate with local food systems, social relations and the livelihood strategies of individual households.
This article was produced as part of the assessment of The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) Technical Report 96. It was originally published here.
Can Bank Indonesia protect its independence?
October 20, 2020
Peter McCawley (ANU)
This article was first published by East Asia Forum.
There is a history to all of this, both in Indonesia and in many other countries. The current fuss about the role of Bank Indonesia, as well as several other financial agencies, reflects the long-standing antipathy towards Bank Indonesia harboured by Indonesian politicians for decades. There are various reasons for the difficult relationship between the central bank and the parliament, but the central issue is the independence Bank Indonesia has in setting monetary policy.
Pemulihan Ekonomi: V, U, atau W?
September 28, 2020
Muhamad Chatib Basri (Universitas Indonesia)
Kita memang tak hidup dalam dunia yang ideal saat ini. Kita sadar, kebijakan ideal ala ”Star Wars” tak akan efektif jika institusinya masih seperti ”Jurrasic Park”.
Read the full article (in Bahasa Indonesia) published by Kompas
Primum Non Nocere: A Policy Approach for Pharmaceutical Investment in Indonesia
September 14, 2020
Andree Surianta (CIPS)
Indonesia is looking for more pharmaceutical FDI to boost its capacity in fighting COVID-19 and future outbreaks. However, pharmaceutical industry is one with a particularly volatile mix: an immense drive for cost efficiency coupled with enormous health and environmental liabilities. How can the Indonesian government balance the need for more investment with the potential liabilities inherent in this industry?
This article was produced as part of the Asia’s Path Forward initiative of the Center for International Private Enterprise and was originally posted here.
COVID-19 and Women’s Economic Participation
August 17, 2020
Marian Baird and Elizabeth Hill (University of Sydney)
“This report provides analysis from a rapid but extensive literature review around the impacts of COVID-19, previous pandemics and recessions on the economic position of women. It also includes analysis on actual and potential impacts in Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and Vietnam, as well as risks and opportunities looking ahead.”
This report has been funded by Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that catalyses inclusive economic growth through women’s economic empowerment in South East Asia. The views expressed in this publication are the authors’ alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.
Read the full article published by Investing in Woman
Indonesia and COVID-19: Impact on the private sector
August 17, 2020
Elizabeth Hill, Marian Baird, and Suneha Seetahul (University of Sydney)
“This report focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on private sector workers and employers in Indonesia. The aim of this report is to provide insights for employers concerning the immediate impact of the crisis on the private sector. These findings will assist employers looking to better support their workforce during the next stage of the crisis period.”
This report has been funded by Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that catalyses inclusive economic growth through women’s economic empowerment in South East Asia. The views expressed in this publication are the authors’ alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.
Read the full article published by Investing in Woman
COVID-19, women and digitised food networks in Jakarta: Inequality and resilience
August 17, 2020
Inaya Rakhmani (Universitas Indonesia), Ariane Utomo (University of Melbourne), Catherine Phillips (University of Melbourne), and Diahhadi Setyonaluri (Universitas Indonesia)
This article was first published by Melbourne Asia Review.
Given the challenges of food security, income, and health presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, women have proven to be agile in meeting the nutritional needs of their households and in finding supplementary sources of income. During the COVID-19 restrictions on movement, women modifying existing informal food networks through internet-mediated communication has become common across Greater Jakarta’s urban neighbourhoods.
Indonesia’s garment industry in crisis
August 11, 2020
Deasy Pane (Bappenas) and Donny Pasaribu (ANU)
This article was first published by East Asia Forum.
Unlike previous crises, COVID-19 is not only affecting the demand side of manufacturing, but also the supply side. Lockdowns and social distancing measures are significantly reducing global demand for clothing products and disrupting production and global value chains. There are also concerns about clusters of COVID-19 cases in garment factories.
IA-CEPA will not solve Indonesia’s FDI problem
August 6, 2020
Krisna Gupta and Andree Surianta (ANU)
This article was first published by East Asia Forum.
The Indonesia–Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) came into effect on 5 July 2020. It is intended to facilitate less restrictive movement of goods, services and investment between the two countries. As attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) is a top priority for Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo, a freer flow of investment from Australia is certainly welcomed. But while IA-CEPA holds promise for trade, there are issues that will undermine its effectiveness in helping Indonesia attract increased FDI.
COVID-19 punishes Indonesian commodity exporters
July 17, 2020
Donny Pasaribu and Krisna Gupta (ANU)
This article was first published by East Asia Forum.
Unlike the 2008–09 global financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic started in China — the primary importer of most commodities. Lockdowns and other measures to limit the spread of the virus are severely disrupting production processes that use these commodities. As factories close down, demand for raw materials also dwindles. Supply chains that developed over many years are also being disrupted by travel restrictions and social distancing.
Indonesia’s PPE export ban backfires
June 22, 2020
Arianto Patunru and Krisna Gupta (ANU)
This article was first published by East Asia Forum.
The Indonesian government does not rely on export bans to increase capacity — instead it facilitates the importation of materials to produce COVID-19 related goods. These measures support firms in expanding their production capacity, helping to combat scarcity. Other institutions such as the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and the Ministry of Health have been pushing for regulatory relaxations to keep local production growing instead of solely relying on trade.
How Asia can work together to recover from COVID-19
June 3, 2020
Peter Drysdale (ANU) and Chatib Basri (University of Indonesia)
“As the world contemplates the savage impact of the COVID-19 virus on the global economy, there’s need to seize initiative in global cooperation to escape the slump caused by the health lockdown.”
Read the full article published by The Australian Financial Review
Implementing Indonesia’s COVID-19 stimulus
June 3, 2020
Lili Yan Ing (ERIA) and Yessi Vadila (ANU)
“COVID-19 is a wake-up call for the world. The pandemic has brought some of the worst economic impacts since World War II. While some Eastern countries seem much better prepared than their Western peers in terms of handling infections, testing, and mitigating the pandemic’s economic impacts, the poorest countries will be hit hardest.”
Read the full article published by East Asia Forum
Re-energising Indonesia’s Electricity Policy during COVID-19
May 28, 2020
Abidah B. Setyowati (ANU)
This article was first published by East Asia Forum.
Major disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic show how modern societies depend on access to electricity. With millions of people confined to their homes, distant modes of learning and working — as well as online streaming for entertainment — are now an everyday reality around the globe. Electricity is also critical to operating medical equipment to treat those badly infected with COVID-19. But the comfort of being able to work, learn and play from home should not be taken for granted.
COVID-19 Unmasks Indonesia’s Investment Conditions
May 25, 2020
Arianto Patunru (ANU) and Andree Surianta (ANU)
This article was first published by East Asia Forum.
Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo submitted a draft bill of the Omnibus Law on Job Creation to parliament this February in an attempt to improve the country’s investment climate. But the bill is unlikely to address the problems that have caused Indonesia to miss out on global investment opportunities such as those created by the shift of production and procurement away from China. COVID-19 may exacerbate these trends, so it is important that the Omnibus bill is the first step toward a more dramatic overhaul of Indonesia’s investment framework.
Covid-19: The Need to Aid Asia to Open Up
May 20, 2020
Haider A. Khan (University of Denver) and Peter McCawley (ANU)
“For Western donor countries, this is not their finest hour. This collective response of Western nations sends a powerful message to developing countries – this time, you are on your own. The corollary is that Asian countries should look to expand their own forms of regional cooperation.”
Read the full article published by the intrepreter.
Spend Fossil-fuel Subsidies on Pandemic Relief and the Poor
May 20, 2020
Muhamad Chatib Basri (University of Indonesia), Rema N. Hanna (Harvard University) and Benjamin A. Olken (MIT)
“But these are not normal times. While the economic fallout from the pandemic has taken a toll on most financial markets, the blow to global oil prices has been especially dramatic. Real (inflation-adjusted) crude oil prices have fallen by at least half, from about $60 per barrel before the crisis to about $25-$30 per barrel today. At one point during the COVID crisis, oil prices hit their lowest level since World War II.”
Read the full article on project-syndicate.org.