Dualism in the economy

Dualism in the economy

The address made on Saturday by Prof. Dr. Ginanjar
Kartasasmita during his initiation as professor at Brawijaya
University, Malang, is worth noting. According to Ginanjar, the
strategies adopted for the development of the modern and
traditional sectors of the economy should be different in order
to reduce existing disparities.

In the modern sector the government should provide leeway and
not interfere too much. In the traditional sector, on the other
hand, the strategy followed should be aimed at invigorating this
sector so that it will not lag ever further behind the modern
sector.

Ginanjar accurately points out that in order to assist this
lagging sector, the government bureaucracy should be more
supportive of and be more oriented towards elevating the weaker
sector. Putting this strategy into effect, however, is clearly
not easy. It seems to much to expect that the bureaucracy will
readjust its attitude of its own free will. Like in most other
developing countries our bureaucracy is sluggish, too big,
elitist and inclined to "help" those who are strong.

Therefore, there is no other way but to make the bureaucracy
change its attitude. The way to do this is by ensuring a
consistent and strict implementation of all existing regulations,
by having more regulations that benefit the people's general
welfare and, what is more important, make sure that there is a
sincere will to do so among the power elite.

-- Republika