Policy Research
SMERU facilitates the implementation of the research conducted by BKKBN by providing advice or input.
The Family Hope Program (PKH) is a conditional cash transfer program launched by the Government of Indonesia in 2007. Since then its beneficiary coverage has reached 10 million families with the goal of reducing intergenerational poverty. An impact evaluation of the Family Hope program showed that after six years of investment it has significantly improved human capital development.
For an independent institution which conducts research and public policy review, to be directly working with policymakers is a highly valuable opportunity. Apart from giving room to make sure that research results are used as inputs for policy formulation, collaborating with policymakers will also increase the credibility of the research institute.
The most talented individuals organize production processes, discover, and innovate. These roles make talented individuals more important than ordinary labor. This paper is the first step to understand talented individuals in Indonesia. First, we use an international benchmark to estimate the number of students that could be considered as highly skilled. We then examine their background and the schools that they go to.
Indonesia has experienced several economic slowdowns and crises leading to mass layoffs, the most recent being in 2014–2015 in which 26,000 people were dismissed from their jobs. Despite the existence of employment social security and health insurance programs, Indonesia still does not have an insurance scheme protecting the unemployed against poverty and assisting them before reemployment.
