Study of the Socioeconomic Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic affects not only public health, but also the economy, education, and social life of the Indonesian people. Based on data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the number of COVID-19 patients in Indonesia reached 6,575 per 19 April 2020. This pandemic had prompted several regional governments to implement the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) policy which limits public activities, including economic and educational activities, and other social activities.

The restriction of these activities affects the socioeconomic conditions of the communities, especially the poor and vulnerable. Therefore, the central and regional governments have issued various policies to tackle the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic. Nevertheless, the implementation of these policies must be monitored and evaluatied to examine their effectiveness.

The SMERU Research Institute, as a research institution that focuses on analyzing socioeconomic issues, takes the initiative to conduct research in the social, economic, education, and health fields, as well as on policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic, both at the national and regional levels.

Objective

To monitor the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on socioeconomic conditions of the Indonesian people, especially those related to poverty and human development
To examine the effectiveness of the government’s policies/programs in the fields of social protection, education, health, and labor

Methodology

This study consists of nine substudies that are divided into two large groups, namely national-scale studies and subnational-scale studies (case studies).

National-scale studies:

Simulation of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on poverty rate in Indonesia. Methodology: quantitative—analysis of the National Socioeconomic Survey (Susenas) data
Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on labor. Methodology: quantitative—analysis of the Susenas and National Labor Force Survey (Sakernas) data, literature study, media tracking, and focus group discussion (FGD) with entrepreneurs’ associations
Monitoring of the distance learning (PJJ) policy at the elementary school level. Methodology:
a) Quantitative: online survey
b) Qualitative: in-depth interviews with elementary school teacher
Monitoring of the Pre-employment Card program implementation. Methodology: qualitative—in-depth interviews with ministries and institutions, and Pre-employment Card beneficiaries
Monitoring of Direct Cash Transfer (BLT)-Village Fund (DD) disbursements. Methodology: qualitative—in-depth interviews with village governments

Subnational-scale studies:

Monitoring of the central and regional governments’ policy responses. Methodology: analyses of contents from media tracking results.
Effectiveness of the Family of Hope Program (PKH) and Noncash Food Assistance (BPNT) in mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: qualitative—in-depth interviews with ministries and institutions, regional governments, village governments, and households.
Monitoring of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on nutrition and maternal and child health services. Methodology:
a) Quantitative—analyses of secondary data of health facilities
b) Qualitative—in-depth interviews with ministries and institutions, regional governments, hospital officials, community health centers (puskesmas), and village cadres
Sosial and cultural resilience of preprosperous households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodogy: qualitative—in-depth interviews with local and migrant communities

The subnational-scale studies chose five locations for case studies, namely Kota Administratif (Administrative City of) East Jakarta (DKI Jakarta); Kabupaten (District of) Bekasi (West Java); Kabupaten Badung (Bali); Kabupaten Maros (South Sulawesi); dan Kota (City of) Kupang (East Nusa Tenggara)

COVID-19

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