Prabowo: Economics Is Simple, Don't Treat It Like a Divine Science

President Prabowo Subianto has spoken out about national wealth being taken abroad, making it difficult to provide a decent life for the people. According to Prabowo, economics can be understood simply, namely by managing the proceeds of enterprise properly. He made these remarks while attending the 28th Anniversary celebration of the National Awakening Party (PKB) at the Jakarta Convention Centre on Thursday (23/7/2026). In his speech, Prabowo stated that the management of national wealth must be conducted so that it remains within the country with the aim of improving public welfare. “We have wanted independence for hundreds of years, for decades. We want independence so that we, all the people of Indonesia, can live decently. We want our people to live decently. How can we provide a decent life for our people if our wealth is continuously taken abroad and not enjoyed by our people? This is illogical. Where is the science in this?” said Prabowo. Prabowo gave an example of daily activities, noting that a small business such as a coffee stall is an economic activity. “So, ladies and gentlemen, do not consider economics to be a divine science. Economics is simple. If you open a stall, that is economics. How much capital for a cup of coffee, how much it sells for, the difference is profit, and the profit is saved,” he said. Prabowo then linked this analogy to the national economic condition. According to the chairman of the Gerindra Party, Indonesia’s main problem is that the nation’s wealth flows abroad, thus failing to provide optimal benefits to the people. “Indonesia’s wealth is taken abroad and not saved because it is not in Indonesia,” he said. Furthermore, the head of state stated that the direction of Indonesia’s economic policy is not a new idea. It is a mandate from the 1945 Constitution, specifically Articles 33 and 34. “Articles 33 and 34 of our Constitution, that is my belief. My ideas are nothing new. My ideas are nothing extraordinary. My idea is simply to uphold our Constitution. Because I believe that Article 33 and Article 34 are the spirit of the struggle of our nation’s founders,” he concluded.