Indonesia has an additional moral dimension, in the context of poor infrastructure. The absence of adequate roads, healthcare facilities and educational facilities disproportionately impacts disadvantaged people, raising concerns about the government’s ethical responsibility to guarantee fundamental services are available to all residents. Allocating resources to bridge these disparities requires juggling competing goals and making moral judgments that emphasize the well-being of underrepresented people.
According to the Asian Development Bank’s data, in the year 2022, Indonesia’s prevalence of stunting among children under 5 years of age was recorded at 31.8 percent. This figure highlights a significant challenge in the country’s efforts to combat child malnutrition and ensure proper growth and development. Unfortunately, this places Indonesia at the 10th position among Southeast Asian countries in terms of stunting rates. Stunting, which signifies chronic undernutrition, can have profound and lasting effects on a child’s physical and cognitive development, potentially hindering their overall well-being and future potential. Addressing this issue requires comprehensive strategies that encompass healthcare, nutrition, education, and socio-economic factors to improve the health and prospects of Indonesia’s young generation.
As Indonesia works to solve these obstacles, it is critical that each issue be approached with a thorough awareness of the moral issues at stake. Balancing economic growth with environmental preservation, battling corruption and fixing infrastructure shortages need decisions that reflect long-term sustainability and the well-being of all Indonesians, not simply short-term advantage. This necessitates leaders and individuals grappling with complicated moral quandaries in order to find answers that correspond with the nation’s goals and objectives while promoting an equitable and inclusive society.
Addressing Economic Disparities
It is critical to reflect on the country’s path to economic growth and social well-being. While substantial progress has been accomplished since the days of battle for independence, the specter of economic inequities continues to loom over the country’s growth. It serves as a sharp reminder that genuine independence requires equal economic growth and social wellbeing for all of its residents.
The continuation of economic issues emphasizes Indonesia’s development journey’s diverse nature. A variety of concerns deserve policymakers’ attention, ranging from increasing the amount and quality of economic growth to managing imports. The economic picture is further complicated by individuals’ stagnated buying power and the low competitiveness of local industries. Furthermore, unpreparedness for the technological revolution of Industry 4.0, typified by digital transformation and automation, exacerbates the inequality gap by leaving people without access to the digital domain behind.
Inconsistency in energy subsidy policy is one of the major drivers maintaining economic inequality. While energy subsidies are intended to help the neediest people, they frequently benefit more prosperous segments of society. This misallocation of resources limits the government’s capacity to direct funding toward more meaningful welfare initiatives that may help individuals at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
The tax system’s poor performance adds another layer of complication to the economic environment. A well-functioning taxation system not only creates cash for public services and infrastructure, but also serves as a tool for wealth redistribution. When tax collection is hampered by inefficiencies, loopholes and even evasion, the responsibility of paying for public facilities falls disproportionately on those who can least afford it.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, marked by fast technical breakthroughs, represents both an opportunity and a threat for Indonesia. If the country wants to properly capitalize on the revolution’s promise, it must guarantee that its population possesses the requisite skills and knowledge. The urban-rural gap must be closed, and comprehensive education and training programs must be implemented to enable all Indonesians to participate in the digital economy.
Economic inequities are also intertwined with the distribution and administration of village revenues. While allocating cash to communities is an important step toward grassroots development, transparency and efficient use of these monies are critical. It is critical in closing the economic gap to ensure that village revenues are used to improve the socioeconomic situations of villages, rather than being siphoned of through corruption or mismanagement.
I recall the Nobel laureate in economics from India, Amartya Kumar Sen, who in his book “Development as Freedom,” emphasized that the culmination of any development process is the attainment of freedom – freedom from poverty, hunger, and ignorance. Sen argued that economic freedom is a prerequisite for comprehensive freedom, aligning with his thesis that when individuals achieve economic independence, it paves the way for liberation in other aspects of life.
However, Sen’s thesis remains rooted in an individualistic perspective, concentrating on personal emancipation without directly addressing the collective freedom of a nation. Nonetheless, he underscored the crucial role of the state in nation-building and in enabling both individuals and the nation to achieve economic autonomy.