Ferry Irwandi Explains Economics Simply Through Prinsipil Ekonomi Book
Ferry Irwandi, Co-founder of Malaka, has published his first book titled Prinsipil Ekonomi (Economic Principles). The book launch was held as part of the Malaka Books Grand Launch series at Citywalk Sudirman, Jakarta, on Sunday, 15 February.
Ferry explained that economics has long been perceived as distant from everyday life because it is associated with complicated numbers and graphs that are understood only by economists, academics, or government officials. However, he argued that nearly every human decision relates to economic principles.
“Economics is not just about import tariffs and the Indonesia Stock Exchange, but also about how to choose clothing, strategies for managing time, career planning, and even friendship decisions. In short, economics is the science of choices,” Ferry stated.
He noted that Prinsipil Ekonomi was written as a bridge for those who wish to study economics in a sensible, relevant, and practical manner. Basic economic literacy is becoming increasingly important as various financial instruments develop, which also opens avenues for fraud. Over the past six years, losses from illegal investment fraud have reached Rp139.65 trillion.
Public enthusiasm for the book is evident from its sales performance. Within less than two months since its release, Prinsipil Ekonomi has sold 20,000 copies and achieved national best-seller status.
Former Trade Minister Tom Lembong, who attended the launch, expressed his appreciation for the book. “Ferry Irwandi’s book Prinsipil Ekonomi has gone straight onto my reading list for this week. Literacy regarding basic economic concepts is very important if we want to advance our financial situation generally. I hope many of our friends will also read it,” Tom said.
Masyita Crystallin, Head of Economic & ESG Strategic Positioning at Danantara, also attended the event and noted that Ferry’s book is able to simplify economic concepts that have previously been difficult to understand. “I studied economics at FEUI through to a doctorate in economics, and economics textbooks are not easy to read. But Ferry Irwandi’s Prinsipil Ekonomi captures the essence of economics that is usually not easy to grasp, presented with simple language and examples that are relevant to daily life, making it easy to understand,” Masyita said.
The entire session of the Malaka Books Grand Launch can be viewed through the Malaka Books YouTube channel.