Dear Readers,
 
In June 2026, we hosted one webinar and one Forum Kajian Pembangunan seminar. The webinar explored the welfare of waste pickers at Bantargebang within the broader waste management system, while the seminar examined the effectiveness of Indonesia's ban on secondhand clothing imports. We hope these discussions enriched your understanding and offered useful insights for policy improvement. You can watch the recordings by clicking on the images in this newsletter.
 
To deepen your perspective further, we recommend two featured readings. The first is a peer-reviewed journal article by SMERU's senior research fellow highlighting the importance of financial literacy for the growth of ultra-micro, micro, small, and medium enterprises. The second is a Kompas article that draws on SMERU research to evaluate the effectiveness of social assistance programs amid the sluggish pace of poverty reduction.
 
Thank you for your continued support. We always welcome your feedback and suggestions at comms[at]smeru.or.id as we strive to make our newsletter even more valuable and relevant to our readers.
 
Widjajanti Isdijoso
Director, The SMERU Research Institute