CIPS says Indonesia's progress must be accompanied by stronger transparency
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) has stated that prosperity is not something that can endure automatically, but must be supported by a foundation of transparent and inclusive social, political, and economic policies.
CIPS Senior Research and Policy Analyst Andree Surianta said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday that Indonesia has recorded progress in the Legatum Prosperity Index 2025, climbing 15 places over the past decade from 79th position in 2015 to 64th in 2025. However, the same report also shows that the pace of improvement in Indonesia’s prosperity index has begun to slow since 2023.
“Prosperity is not solely determined by income or economic growth. Sustainable progress requires institutions that are trusted by the public, space for society to convey criticism and aspirations, and a transparent and accountable government,” Andree said.
He assessed that this condition is an early warning that requires serious attention from the government.
According to him, data from the Legatum Prosperity Index 2025 shows that Indonesia’s prosperity gains over the past decade have been supported by improvements in people’s living standards. This is reflected in the increase in Gross National Income (GNI) per capita from 3,390 US dollars to 5,120 US dollars, the decline in extreme poverty to below five percent, and the widening access to clean water and proper sanitation.
Nevertheless, the same report also shows the emergence of a number of new challenges. In the economic sphere, Indonesia faces a slowdown in development progress, visible in the shrinking share of the middle class in recent years. Meanwhile, in the area of governance, corruption remains one of the weaknesses that has yet to show meaningful improvement.
“The climb towards the next level of prosperity will be very difficult to achieve if future policies ignore the importance of transparency, space for public participation, and strong legal certainty,” he said.
These concerns are reinforced by the decline in a number of civil liberty indicators. Over the past decade, Indonesia’s ranking on the Freedom of Dissent pillar has fallen 12 positions to 86th place. The report also highlights various debates regarding the space for civil liberties, transparency in the legislative process, and the increasing role of the military in a number of civilian affairs.
“When these aspects weaken, a country’s ability to continue improving prosperity will also be hampered,” Andree said.
Amid these various challenges, Indonesia actually possesses social capital that is one of its main strengths. The Legatum Prosperity Index places Indonesia fourth in the world for the Integrity of Communities pillar, reflecting high social solidarity, public optimism, and citizens’ willingness to help one another.
According to Andree, this social capital needs to be understood as the strength of society to cooperate voluntarily and equally. The social trust that forms the foundation of gotong royong will grow when people feel heard, respected, and involved in public decision-making processes.
“It is important for the government to return to the original spirit of gotong royong that welcomes community initiatives as part of nationhood,” he added.
To ensure Indonesia’s prosperity continues to rise, the government needs to strengthen transparency, safeguard space for public participation, and ensure that the policy formulation process takes place openly. These steps are important to maintain public trust while ensuring that the progress already achieved does not lose momentum.
“Indonesia enters its 81st year as a country that is far more prosperous than several decades ago. We have strong social capital and a living tradition of gotong royong. The challenge now is to ensure that this strength is supported by transparent institutions, open policies, and guaranteed civil liberties so that prosperity can continue to increase,” he added.