Rhenald Kasali: Indonesia's Golden Age 2045 Determined by Dominance of Productive Population Groups

Surabaya – Professor Rhenald Kasali, Ph.D., dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Indonesia, has emphasised that Indonesia’s golden age vision for 2045 can only be realised if the number of productive population groups is larger than dependent groups.

This was stated by Kasali during an educational talk show themed “School and Parent Collaboration in Preparing Indonesia’s Golden Generation 2045” held by SMA Katolik St. Louis 1 Surabaya together with the Alumni Association (IKA) of SMA Katolik St. Louis 1 Surabaya.

According to Kasali, the essence of Indonesia’s golden age lies in a healthy demographic composition, where productive-age groups can serve as engines for economic and social growth.

“Indonesia’s golden age is essentially about having a larger group of productive Indonesians than those who are dependent—parents, children, retirees. So these young, productive people can make a contribution,” said Professor Kasali at SMA Katolik St. Louis 1 Surabaya.

However, he cautioned that current conditions reveal serious challenges. Declining purchasing power, rising unemployment rates, disrupted manufacturing sectors, and increased living costs are potentially hindering the formation of this productive generation.

“When we are about to enter that phase, we see purchasing power declining, many unemployed, many manufacturing sectors disrupted, taxes being increased. These developments actually contradict the formation we need,” he emphasised.

Kasali stressed that preparing the golden generation should not be viewed merely as expenditure, but as long-term investment. He warned that failing to invest in young people today will create social problems over the coming decade.

“If we want to reap a productive generation, we must invest. We cannot view this as mere spending, but as investment for the next ten years. If we do not act today, it will become a problem in ten years,” he said.

He outlined social risks that could emerge if the state and society neglect preparing young people, ranging from increased school dropouts to growing numbers of street children.

“We will see more children on the streets becoming parking attendants, more becoming street musicians, more children who are undereducated and out of school. So today we must balance this,” he said.

Furthermore, Kasali also highlighted the importance of educational quality, particularly the quality of teachers and schools. According to him, social assistance programmes or other programmes may be implemented, but they must not neglect educational quality.

“For example, conditional cash transfers are acceptable, but teacher quality and school quality must be prioritised. If we do not maintain teacher quality, how can teachers teach better?” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, Chair of IKA SMA Katolik St. Louis 1 Surabaya, Vincentia Juliani, stated that hosting this talk show was a form of alumni contribution to preparing the golden generation from school level.

“We organised this event as our step in contributing to Indonesia’s preparation of the golden generation, which we begin with students in our beloved school. Young people must be prepared,” she said when met after the talk show at the IKA Secretariat Office within the SMA Katolik St. Louis 1 Surabaya building.

The talk show presented collaboration between schools and parents as the fundamental foundation for forming student character, competencies, and competitiveness. Through this forum, participants were invited to understand that Indonesia’s Golden Age 2045 is not merely a slogan, but a collective agenda requiring consistent investment in human resources from an early age.

Also present at the event were Deputy Chair I of IKA, Henry James Nelwan, and Deputy Chair II of IKA, Ridwan Halim.