Indonesia Economic Quarterly, March 2014 : Investment in Flux
Indonesia's economy continues to adjust to weaker terms of trade and tighter external financing conditions, with the composition of growth tilting more towards net exports, and economic growth slowing moderately. While this shift is positive f...
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Format: | Economic Updates and Modeling |
Language: | English en_US |
Published: |
Washington, DC
2014
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/03/19286525/indonesia-economic-quarterly-investment-flux http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17792 |
Summary: | Indonesia's economy continues to
adjust to weaker terms of trade and tighter external
financing conditions, with the composition of growth tilting
more towards net exports, and economic growth slowing
moderately. While this shift is positive for macroeconomic
stability, it has to date been based primarily on tighter
monetary policy and the depreciation of the Rupiah in 2013,
the effects of which are continuing to play out. To further
reduce Indonesia's vulnerability to external shocks, to
minimize the risks of a more marked cyclical slowdown in
growth, and to convert the near-term macro adjustment into
strong, sustained growth over the longer term, further
progress on long-standing policy priorities is warranted.
Progress in three key areas can support both near-term macro
stability and Indonesia's long-term economic prospects.
First, there is a need to support domestic and foreign
investor confidence. Recent policy and regulatory
developments, including the partial ban on mineral exports,
have increased uncertainty, may weigh on investment across
the economy, and compound the usual difficulty of predicting
policy ahead of elections. Given rising fiscal pressures
from slower revenue growth and higher fuel subsidy costs,
the second priority is to broaden the revenue base and
improve the quality of spending, notably by reducing energy
subsidy expenditure. These measures would also increase
available fiscal space for more equitable, pro-growth
spending. Third, credible progress is needed on addressing
structural impediments to stronger and more inclusive
growth, namely infrastructure and worker skills gaps, and
factor and product market constraints. The policy
environment is naturally constrained ahead of legislative
elections in April and the presidential election in July.
However, in light of ongoing economic risks and
Indonesia's ambitious development agenda, laying the
groundwork for future reforms, minimizing policy
uncertainty, and making continued reform progress in some
areas, should remain a priority. |
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