Interpreting the 2026 Economic Census

The 2026 Economic Census (SE 2026) is taking place across the entire country from 15 June to 31 August 2026. SE 2026 is an important endeavour to capture a complete picture of Indonesia’s economy. The focus is not only on large businesses but also on micro, small, and medium enterprises, as well as various other forms of economic activity growing within society. This portrait serves as the basis for formulating economic development policies for the coming years. Therefore, the quality of a census is not merely a matter of statistical technicality but concerns the quality of the nation’s development direction. Public attention often focuses on the numerical outputs published. However, the quality of a census is built during the data collection process. The critical challenges faced are minimising coverage errors and content errors. Coverage errors occur when a business unit that should be recorded is missed, or vice versa. Meanwhile, content errors happen when the information obtained from respondents does not match actual conditions. The higher the rate of coverage and content errors, the lower the quality of the data produced. At this point, the role of the enumerator becomes urgent. They are not just information recorders but the face of the state present directly within the community. Professionalism, thoroughness, communication skills, and integrity are the main assets to ensure the data and information collected truly reflect actual conditions. On the other hand, the success of SE 2026 depends on the public’s willingness to participate. Honesty in providing information is a contribution that may seem simple but has a significant impact. Every respondent’s answer becomes part of the national economic picture. When the information provided is incomplete or does not match actual conditions, data quality is affected. The impact does not stop at statistical activities but extends to misdirected state policy interventions. The relationship between the census officer and the respondent is essentially a relationship built on trust. The public has the right to assurance that their data will be kept confidential and used solely for statistical purposes in accordance with applicable regulations. Conversely, officers have the right to good cooperation so that the data collection process runs smoothly. This trust fosters the participation that is the foundation for quality data. In practice, field data collection challenges are never simple. These challenges include high public mobility, the development of various digital-based business models, limited time for respondents to be met, and persistent misunderstandings that SE 2026 is related to social assistance and tax collection. The success of SE 2026 cannot be solely the burden of the organisers. Collective awareness is needed that statistical data is a public good. Its benefits are felt not only by the government but also by the business world, academics, and the wider community who need information as a compass for decision-making. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in his social contract concept, stated that society surrenders some of its rights to the state so that the state can create order, security, and welfare. As part of this social contract, citizens have an obligation to provide the information needed by the state, including through census data collection. Herein lies the relevance of SE 2026 as a manifestation of the social contract in realising the state’s objectives as stated in the constitution. Law Number 16 of 1997 on Statistics has regulated the rights and obligations of census organisers and respondents, complete with sanctions for violations. However, as citizens, our paradigm should not stop merely at the ‘command of the law’ and compliance because of ‘sanctions’. Immanuel Kant’s deontological ethics teach that an action is considered moral not because of its consequences, but because the action is performed as a moral duty that becomes a universal law. In the perspective of Kant’s categorical imperative, the respondent’s obligation to provide correct data is a moral action that does not depend on personal gain. Society provides honest information because honesty is a universal duty. This becomes relevant when respondent compliance is juxtaposed with Max Weber’s view of social action. Weber mentioned that a person’s actions are not always based on profit and loss considerations or the threat of sanctions, but are also driven by values. Society participating in SE 2026 because they consider it a moral duty and a form of service to the state demonstrates value-oriented action. Compliance arises because individuals believe that providing correct information is an action that aligns with the values of responsibility, honesty, and concern for the public interest in achieving the common good. Kant’s categorical imperative also emphasises respect for human dignity. In the context of SE 2026, officers have an obligation to treat respondents as subjects with rights and dignity, not merely as sources of statistical information. This is demonstrated through professional conduct, respect for privacy, and protection of the confidentiality of the data collected. Ethical data collection reflects Kant’s principle that humans must never be treated solely as a means to achieve the state’s ends, but as individuals with intrinsic value.