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