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Indonesia Loves MoUs. But Do They Really Drive Economic Growth?
MoUs dominate Indonesia’s investment story. Most are non-binding. Many never materialise. Some reshape entire industries.
 • Leigh McKiernon
Are Indonesian Professionals Underpaid? Or Simply Paid In Line With the Value They Create?
Why do Indonesian professionals feel underpaid? Wages often reflect domestic productivity, export capacity, and a demand loop that’s hard to escape.
 • Leigh McKiernon
When the Middle East Burns, What Happens to Indonesia?
Could sustained energy volatility strain Indonesia’s budget, jobs, and cost of living? Here’s what it genuinely means for households.
 • Leigh McKiernon
LPDP: Indonesia’s Experiment in Funding Education, National Pride, and… Other Countries’ Labor Markets
LPDP invests billions in human capital. But can Indonesia retain its top talent in a global job market?
 • Leigh McKiernon
Indonesia’s Corruption Problem Is Hurting the Global Value of Its Talent
Indonesia’s corruption ranking quietly devalues its talent, suppresses salaries, and weakens how Indonesian experience is trusted and priced globally.
 • Leigh McKiernon
How Did Indonesia's G20 Economy Make Cambodia Look Like a Good Career Move?
Indonesia grows at 5% yet thousands flee to scam jobs in Cambodia, exposing weak wages, limited mobility, and a fragile job market beyond Jakarta.
 • Leigh McKiernon
People Say The New BI Deputy Governor Isn't Qualified For the Job. But Hear Me Out...
Indonesia’s central bank appointment has sparked a debate on nepotism, experience, and whether confidence can replace competence in high-risk leadership…
 • Leigh McKiernon
Indonesia’s "Middle Class": The Most Hard-Working Phrase in Economics
Indonesia’s middle class fell from ~60m to ~48m, but the bigger issue is the low threshold that inflates “middle class” far beyond lived reality.
 • Leigh McKiernon
Indonesia Re-Enters the Semiconductor Chat With ARM, The UK, and a $125m Piggy Bank
Indonesia once had a semiconductor foothold and lost it. Now it’s back with ARM. Baby steps, big headlines, and a long road ahead.
 • Leigh McKiernon
GDP Per Capita: The Number That Makes Indonesia Look Richer (and the Public Feel Poorer)
Indonesia’s GDP per capita suggests prosperity, but income data, inequality, and informal work reveal a population still far from middle-class security.
 • Leigh McKiernon
Indonesia’s Startup Boom, Bust, and the Cost of Weaponized Nationalism
Indonesia’s startup crash wasn’t accidental. It was fueled by nationalism, weak governance, and wealth extraction disguised as patriotism.
 • Leigh McKiernon
Why Isn’t Indonesia a Tourism Superpower Yet?
Indonesia has world class tourism assets but trails regional rivals in visitor numbers. Why does the gap exist and what could change in the next five…
 • Leigh McKiernon
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