Capitalism is no evil<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Trade and Industry Hartarto defines
\ntrade liberalization as a system of open international trade with
\nminimum tariff barriers based on the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
After the APEC economic leaders' meeting in Bogor there has
\nbeen a widely held perception that Indonesia is moving to
\nliberate its economy.<\/p>\n
Enough has been said about Indonesia's economy, which is
\nneither capitalist nor socialist. Ours is a combination of market
\neconomy and a centralized economy.<\/p>\n
Hitherto, we believe that a liberal economy is not suitable to
\nIndonesia because there will be cut-throat competition where only
\nthe strong ones will survive and the common people will suffer
\nwith the government standing helplessly on the sideline.<\/p>\n
This was true 150 years ago during the industrial revolution
\nin Great Britain, which later swept all over Europe and the
\nUnited States. Since the 1930s, however, this has not been the
\ncase.<\/p>\n
The liberal economic system has since undergone a kind of
\nevolution and developed into one that protects the weak. The
\nintervention of government is still quite strong.<\/p>\n
In advanced industrialized countries the system has even
\nstricter regulations on competition compared to those in
\ndeveloping countries. At the same time, and due to various
\nreasons, we witness distorted market mechanisms, protection,
\nmonopoly and collusion between businessmen and government
\nofficials in developing countries.<\/p>\n
Hence, we do not see the reason for us to be defensive on
\nbeing charged that ours is a liberal economy since it has ceased
\nto be an evil.<\/p>\n
--Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/capitalism-is-no-evil-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }