What's wrong with us?

Right before the economic crisis, our per capita income was about US$1,400 per annum, which put us well above most poverty- stricken African countries, something that we could be proud of, even though we were still well below Malaysia which was above $2,000 per annum.

But now with the persistent dive of the rupiah, being a layman, I would say looking at our per capita income with the current rate, it may well be about $500. This puts us back to the transitional period from the Old Order to the New Order in the 1970's.

The question is: If we are back to where we were before the long-term Five-Year Development Plan started, does it mean we are still progressing? Or is it just pseudo-progress we are experiencing now, with supermalls, highways and skyscrapers?

BOB S. EFFENDI

Jakarta