Guess What? Loekman Soetrisno

What does globalization mean to a becak driver?

"I was asked if globalization meant exporting becak," said Loekman Soetrisno, a professor of rural economy from Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, during a discussion in Jakarta about the economy of the common people on Thursday.

Becak (pedicab) is banned in Jakarta, but it is an important public transportation means in Yogyakarta.

Since the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bogor, West Java, in November last year, the word "globalization" has become very popular among Indonesians from all walks of life. Everybody talks about it and it seems that no day passes without "globalization" being mentioned.

Many believe that globalization, along with the free-trade concept, will have a good impact on the economic development in the country. But Loekman said he was not sure globalization would be that beneficial for people at the grassroots level. He worried that the people would not be ready for the trade liberalization and that the number of poor people might increase.

But how could he explain this to the becak driver?

He told the becak driver not to worry and promised to give him shelter if any unexpected thing happened. (sim)