Prabowo: Economics Is Simple, Not a Divine Science

President Prabowo Subianto has stated that economics is a simple discipline. He believes the principles of managing state wealth should not be viewed as a complicated science. “Economics should not be considered a divine science. Economics is simple,” Prabowo said during a speech at the peak celebration of the 28th anniversary of the National Awakening Party in Jakarta on Thursday, 23 July 2026. The Chairman of the Gerindra Party is confident that economic principles can be easily understood. For example, he said, it is like managing a coffee stall. Prabowo likened Indonesia’s economic governance to running a coffee stall. “If you open a stall, that is economics. What is the capital for one cup of coffee? How much is it sold for? The difference is profit, and the profit is saved,” he said. If the proceeds from selling coffee are not saved, Prabowo argued, the stall owner will never prosper. He then compared this to the management of Indonesia’s wealth. According to him, national wealth has not been able to be saved because much of it flows abroad. “Indonesia’s wealth is taken overseas and not saved because it is not in Indonesia,” the former Defence Minister said. He stated that such a condition is illogical and the practice cannot be justified. “How can we provide a decent life for the people if our wealth is continuously taken abroad and not enjoyed by the people,” Prabowo said. President Prabowo attended the peak celebration of PKB’s 28th anniversary alongside Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Based on Tempo’s observation at the location, Prabowo and Gibran arrived at the Plenary Hall of the Jakarta Convention Centre at around 7:40 PM Western Indonesian Time. He attended the event wearing a white safari suit, while Gibran wore a brown batik shirt. Upon arrival, Prabowo, accompanied by PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, walked to greet the invited guests, who consisted of senior PKB officials, a number of clerics, and officials from political parties within the government coalition.