Stepping Forward or Backward?

No less than UNDP's own spokesman for Indonesia, Tomi Soetjipto who argued the case. "There are more countries added to the index this year compared to last year," he told reporters in Jakarta. "Therefore, the reduction in rank number this year does not reflect the actual decline in the performance of Indonesia as a whole".

The same tone is sung by some government officials most related with this problem, such as Ministry of National Development Planning/Head of BAPPENAS, Armida Alisyahbana. With a little apologetic, she tried to distract the public with the data showing the development of Indonesian HDI several years beforehand that even being one of the 'top ten countries with the most rapid development’ (ten best movers) in 2010. But, that's the question: why now tend to fall back? There's hardly a satisfactory answer. Even the Vice President's official website (which is in fact an economist) feel the need to publish a special paper to 'defend themselves' that welfare improvement is the command of constitution, religion, and science that will continue to be implemented by the government. Unfortunately, the explanation is too simple, even had 'error’ by mentioning Nobel laureate economist, Professor Amartya Sen, as the figure who promoted the use of HDI as the main indicators of development success. As a 'driving force', the very vital role of Professor Sen must be admitted, but the pioneer of HDI ideas and theories is actually a Pakistan's economic expert, the late Mahbub ul-Haq. In a sense, HDI is actually a 'legacy' of Professor Haq.

Regardless of historical simplification, the explanation of the Vice President official website also displaying only a few pieces of Indonesia HDI data that looks good and 'exciting'. For example, by comparing it with several other countries in Southeast and East Asia region. When compared with Vietnam, of course, almost all of Indonesia HDI data is above the socialist country. However, people often forget that there are extensive differences between the two countries in starting the economic development in the same orientation (massive industrialization, market liberalization, export orientation, and so on). In this regard, Indonesia is ahead of Vietnam about 20 years earlier, even with relatively better conditions than the Vietnamese who has not been fully recovered from the devastated effects of the Vietnam War at that time. So, if now Vietnam HDI was just a few digits below Indonesia - in a few specific elements of HDI indeed above Indonesia – it should be questioned: doesn’t it mean this country actually run very slow?

It might be necessary to see the comparison between the two countries in some of the following graphs:

In this first chart (HDI as a whole), it was obvious in just relatively short years, Vietnam is catching up and almost equal to Indonesia. But this is indeed the general picture only. More detailed description of the data from some of the basic components of HDI would be more astonishing. Take for example in terms of the allocation of state expenditure for two sectors which are the main indicators: education and health. In the second graph (state spending on education) and the third graph (state spending for public health) - both as a percentage of total gross domestic product, GDP), Vietnam is clearly well above Indonesia (no need to compare it with Timor Leste, because the erritory and population is too much difference with Indonesia). This means that Vietnam was unsparingly boost the two sectors which are the primary composites of HDI calculations. If the data derived from the two sectors is continuously decomposed, for example up to the statistic of infant and maternal mortality rates, the difference is still strikingly similar between the two countries. To be more certain, please visit UNDP official website. Do not stop on the big indicators only, but go on to the details of each indicator and sub indicator. So, you will see more clearly that maybe that's why many government officials here have never convey all the details, always stop at the main indicators that are merely the final calculation.
 

It becomes more interesting if we are sufficiently careful and patient in tracing the main themes highlighted by the UNDP HDI report this year. As per the title, there are two important elements that is interesting to be explored further, namely the element of 'sustainability' and 'inequality'. Sustainability indicators used by UNDP is numerous including the calculation of carbon emissions consumption per capita. As two countries that still have a tropical forest area, it is interesting to compare the development of total forest area (as percentage of total land area) and the reduction or destruction (depletion) of natural resources of both countries in implementing economic development. In the fourth graph (total forest area) and fifth (depletion of natural resources), it is clear how the forests area of Vietnam continues to grow, while the total forest area in Indonesia on the contrary continues to decline. Likewise, the reduction or destruction of natural resources. Vietnam indeed had experienced extreme destruction between 1985-2005, but with the spirit of the legendary 'Uncle Ho', they were able to immediately make it 'free fall' down to zero again after 2005. Meanwhile, Indonesia is continuously falling down on relatively constant rate (ie, natural resource degradation continues nearly the same for approximately the last 20 years).

All that is done by Vietnam without leaving their identity as 'farmer country'. The economic progress that slowly but surely began to chase Indonesia does not make rural people flock to go to the cities. As shown in the last graph, the number of urban population in Vietnam increase very small (only about 30% of the total population), while in Indonesia continues to grow to nearly half (over 40%). The most obvious daily indicator is the life of millions of Indonesian people who has become migrant workers (Tenaga Kerja Indonesia. TKI) in various countries, while we have never heard or read the news of 'TKV' (Tenaga Kerja Vietnam, Vietnam Migrant Labor) which humiliated, even beheaded, in foreign country. It means, the rural village and agricultural work in Vietnam is still able to guarantee its citizens a dignified life, and that may explain why they finally are able to export rice (as well as coffee, pepper, and various fruits), including to Indonesia.

It may be easier to explain with concrete examples. In the 1980s, high officials and the agricultural field extension workers from Vietnam (and from many other countries) came to visit and study about integrated pest management (IPM) in Indonesia, especially for major food crops (rice). Many agricultural experts, including practitioners of Indonesian NGO also sent to Vietnam to train the neighboring nation still recovering from the effects of war and just starting to learn to crawl again. Now? Indonesia instead imports rice from of its 'former pupil'? Observing the developments that took place in that communist country today, it is not impossible in the next few years they are the ones who will be the 'guru' for Indonesia. Almost the same as Malaysia. In the 1960s-1970s, many Malaysian people studied at various universities in Indonesia. Now? In addition to sending thousands of unskilled labors (if you do not want to call it 'coolies' and ‘housemaid’) to that neighboring country, more and more people from Indonesia attend school there.

What does it all mean if not slowness and incompetence? Among many international development consultants in the region, there is a bitter 'joke' (unfortunately) we often hear with 'hurt feeling'. They said: "If you want to see something presented stunningly, look at Philippines or Indonesia. But, if you want to see something actually happening and implemented earnestly, well... look at Vietnam". The statistics of social welfare is the example. Every year, before the year ends, we can get a full report of UNDP's about our country. Here? Please visit the official website of the Central Statistics Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik, BPS). The most recent national HDI data available is only until 2009. Even more it is only the aggregate up to the provincial level. Do not expect for the district level. Please visit all of the official websites of hundreds of districts and cities government: how many who are ready and announce its HDI data until the most recent year at this time? It can be counted with fingers and toes only.

Some say it was just a technical matter. Indeed, clearly it is a matter of bureaucratic inertia, ignorance of politicians, intellectuals apathy. But, if you want to be honest, much more profound is the basic attitude that increasingly petrified which considers information unimportant, as well as the lust of power to conceal information (read: the truth!) so as not to be known by the general public.

So, the problem is not primarily on economic statistics. The problem was again on the ethic, passion, perseverance, responsibility and - of course - the social system and culture that enables all such dignified attitude and actions grew from early age to all children of the nation. That is all are faded and lost in this country. Even just to admit the mistakes and incompetence alone, officials of this nation would find a million reasons to avoid and deny. The evolving political culture forbids humility, confession, and repentance. In Japan, a Foreign Minister resigned immediately only because of 'small matter' of his relation to help the widows of war casualties from Korea. Here, just a low rank employee, who obviously 'stealing public money' is able to perform various moves to avoid, evasive, stalling for time, even buying power and justice. Where did they learn to have such 'bold face' like that if not from the bosses of their bosses?

And, that's what completely not included in the HDI composite. Even modern economics had not been able to count them. In fact, what is required not only the HDI, but also 'Human Dignity Index'. If the entire social system and culture of this nation's exist and evolve as it is now, no fundamental change, it's better not to dream that someday a child or few children of this nation will one day be like Professor Haq: sparked a theory and new breakthrough knowledge about the Human Dignity Index which started to be awfully needed, and then being recognized and used as global indicators such as the HDI today.**