Friday, March 29, 2024 | 04:43 WIB

OPINION

Another and better way of promoting democracy

As Taipei accuses Beijing of trying to take control of the Taiwan Strait in the wake of Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit and the Biden administration continues along with its Western allies in their proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, the global status quo has seemingly and suddenly been upended. 

Foster Father in Stunting Prevention?

National Family Day is a harbinger of momentum for the government (BKKBN) to accommodate the concept of mutual cooperation, according to the President’s direction, in an effort to accelerate stunting reduction. Is it appropriate? 

Assessing National Debt Problems

In the past, discussion about issues related to national debt almost always referred t o underdeveloped or developing economies. In the 1980s, considerable discussion was devoted to apparently unsustainable levels of national debt, mostly regarding the countries of Latin America. Once a while, a “special case” arose, when a sovereign state was forced to declare bankruptcy, admitting that its central bank was unable to continue paying interest due on its respective government bonds. Argentina was a case study of such an event; following Latin America, Russia suffered a similar fate. Then, in the 1990s Japan endured a decade of “no-growth economy”, with its national debt soaring until it surpassed 200 per cent of the island nation’s GDP. This period became sadly dubbed “the lost decade”.

Geopolitical dimensions of the TNI-U.S. Commander Meeting, President’s Visit to China

A visit of the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A Milley with TNI Commander General Andika has inevitably raised broader geopolitical dimensions. 

Perilous ECB Balancing Act

Steep inflation was surging in the USA; the Fed responded by cranking up Fed fund rates, time and again, in the effort to suppress it. Across the Atlantic, the ECB, under President Christian Laggard, saw fit to follow the same path.

Sustaining the Presidential Threshold: The Constitutional Court’s Decision Violates the Constitution

The Constitutional Court of Indonesia is no longer the enforcer of the Constitution. It has transformed into an ally of groups that sustain constitutional violations. All lawsuits for judicial review of the 20 percent presidential threshold were dismissed, rejected without any ground and ruled out by violating the Constitution itself. 

Disapointment in Central Bank Policy is Baseless

Market players have tended to display their disappointment in their respective US and European central banks, arguing that these government institutions moved too slowly in their response to surging inflation – and when they ultimately got around to taking measures, they were too late and not forceful enough . 

AFTER THE FED AND ECB:IT’S YOUR TURN, BOJ

In my previous column I wrote about a challenge that The Fed and ECB faced, in the effort to act judiciously and firmly on the looming problem of high inflation: 8 per cent plus per annum in both cases. 

Presidential threshold: the root of corrupted politicians

Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Alexander Marwata has pointed out the high cost of politics and elections in Indonesia. In a discussion that took place in Jakarta at the end of June, Marwata revealed the results of a KPK survey, which stated the estimated funds required to become a candidate for a level II Regional Head (Mayor/Regent) are IDR 20 to 30 billion. To become a Governor may take IDR 100 billion. 

Still pondering the challenges of developed economies

In my previous column I referred to the meeting of the G7 Summit in Bavaria, Germany, a session which planned to discuss, among other issues, the possibility of Russia completely shutting down its gas exports to European countries, a drastic move that would certainly entail major problems for these countries’ economies, along with high inflation, potential rationing of fuel and other inconveniences. The next issue would be how to address this issue and come out well. 

Safeguarding the Qurban Economy

After a two-year-long pandemic, the Qurban – a livestock animal sacrifice performed during the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday – activities have started to bounce back, as the number of COVID-19 cases turns downward. Since public mobility restrictions have become more relaxed, economic activities are also recovering, resulting in the revival of a people’s economy. 

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