Policy Research

Cash Transfers

We examine the impacts of a recently implemented change to the Indonesian national conditional cash transfer program, Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH), that resulted in payments to the approximately 10 million participating families almost doubling on average between 2018 and 2019. In contrast to previous evaluations of PKH, we focus on the impact of the increased payment not participation in PKH per se. Data from the 2018 and 2019 National Socio-economic Surveys (Susenas) is used to match PKH recipient households to non-recipient households within districts. A difference-in-differences strategy is then used to identify the impact of the increase in the transfer size. The data allow the identification of impacts only in the very short term (approximately one month) after first receipt of the larger transfers. 



Drawing on survey data from 2012, we used a regression discontinuity design to investigate whether participation in Familias en Acción  (a Colombian CCT program benefiting 2.8 million household) affects caregivers’ time preferences and aspirations for their children's education, both while receiving the transfers and over a period of up to nine years after exiting the program. 


Gender

Gender norms are a major barrier to women working, and can impede gender equality progress. Using evidence from an online survey in Indonesia, our latest Research Insight explores attitudes to married Indonesian women working for pay, and interventions that could be help change these attitudes to improve opportunities for women in Indonesia and elsewhere.

Research Insights (English Indonesian)

The UNICEF estimates that approximately 650 million girls and women alive today were married before their 18th birthday, and if progress is not     accelerated, an additional 150 million girls will be married in childhood by 2030. Using a panel data from Indonesia and information from over 40,000 individuals, we find significant and persistent negative effects of child marriage on women and men. These negative effects also have consequences across generations in Indonesia.  

Research Dissemination Melbourne Institute’s colloquium video (English Indonesian), Research Insights (English Indonesian)


Female workforce participation has huge economic potential, yet only half of all women of working age in Indonesia are in the labour force. This study provides insight into how labour market policy could help stimulate Indonesia’s economic growth through greater employment of women’s skills. 

     Media engagement Pursuit, The conversation (English Indonesian), Women are the business (Podcast), Women's agenda.


Following women over 20 years we find that around 40% dropout the labour market after marriage or first child. Indonesia could improve productivity and prosperity by making  workplaces more family friendly, so that fewer women are forced out of the labour market after they marry or have children.

    Media engagement on this research by BBC, Femina.


The Indonesian economy has undergone dramatic changes over the last few decades. Indonesia achieved middle income status in 2004 and high growth also rapidly reduced  poverty from 23 percent of the population in 1999 to 11 percent in 2016. The share of manufacturing and services in the economy is growing, and agriculture declining (although  still a high level overall). Yet one area that has not changed much is participation of women in the labour market. We present new research on the labour market situation for  women and gender wage gaps in Indonesia.

    Impact of this research by Jakarta Post.


This study uses 2010 Indonesian Census as the primary source of data, alongside with the 2011 Village Census (PODES) as a further extent, this research develop a model that  identifies significant determinants of maternal mortality in Indonesia as well as capturing the potential confounding factors. A probit model is used in this study, with maternal  death as the dependent variable and the explanatory variables include the characteristics of the women, their households, and their village.  


The Demographic Health Survey in 2012 estimated a MMR of 359 deaths per 100,000 live births, an increase compared to the 228 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2007. The  focus of this technical note is to identify methodological differnces across the two surveys , and whether they contribute to explain the estimated increase.

Disability

Following the Indonesian government's recent introduction of a law protecting the rights of people with disabilities, we examine the data on disability in the nation.

    Media engagement on this research by Jakarta Post (Printed), Book chapter.