A healthy economy must be felt
Similar to how money can buy some peace of mind but is no guarantor of happiness, a strong economy does not necessarily lead to general prosperity.
A thriving economy must be experienced personally, not merely measured through statistics. Even when economic indicators are robust, such as Indonesia's GDP growth of 5.29 percent in the second quarter, widespread prosperity may not be evident. Recent surveys reveal stark disparities between official figures and public sentiment.
While inflation has eased and unemployment has slightly decreased, a majority of Indonesians report that their economic conditions are either bad or very bad. Only a small fraction, 15.7 percent, claim the economy is performing well. This disconnect suggests that economic growth does not necessarily translate into individual well-being or perceived improvement in personal circumstances.
While some may benefit from economic gains, those who feel left behind may not derive the same sense of prosperity. The government's ambitious growth target of 8 percent might have set unrealistic expectations. More likely, the lack of felt economic progress stems from limited access to job and business opportunities for the majority.
A healthy economy should be experienced, not just reflected in numbers. The Jakarta Post invites readers to share their experiences, suggestions, and concerns regarding this issue.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
