The Faculty of Economics and Business, Gadjah Mada University (FEB UGM), in collaboration with the Australian National University (ANU), once again held the Mubyarto Public Policy Forum 2025 on Friday (24/10/2025) at the Function Hall, 8th floor of the FEB UGM Learning Centre Building. This year’s event will focus on the theme of Poverty and Welfare Reform in Indonesia.
FEB UGM and ANU have organised the Mubyarto Public Policy Forum annually since 2017 to honour Prof. Mubyarto, a leading economist at Gadjah Mada University and one of Indonesia’s most influential intellectuals on rural development issues in the 1960s and 1990s.
Through this forum, FEB UGM and ANU aim to foster academic discussions on various development policy issues in Indonesia, particularly those related to poverty and rural development.
This forum featured Sudarno Sumarto, senior researcher at The SMERU Research Institute, as the keynote speaker who discussed social protection transformation for Indonesia’s future. Two prominent speakers will also be present, namely Elan Satriawan, Lecturer at the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Gadjah Mada University, and Putu Geniki L. Nathi, Lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Indonesia, who will provide academic perspectives and various empirical experiences regarding social protection and the effectiveness of public policy.
The Deputy Dean of FEB UGM for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni, Gumilang Aryo Sahadewo, S.E., M.A., Ph.D., expressed his appreciation to all parties who participated in the 2025 Mubyarto Public Policy Forum. He emphasised that this forum is an essential space for academics and researchers to reflect on the direction of development policies, especially on issues of poverty and social welfare.
“The dialogue between research and public policy is the key to designing reforms that truly favour the community,” he said.
Through this forum, he continued, we carry on Prof. Mubyarto’s spirit, which is that the economy must serve humanity. For Prof. Mubyarto, economic development is not only about increasing GDP, but also ensuring that growth is inclusive, participatory, and rooted in justice and solidarity. In his writings, he often reminded us that ignoring poor and marginalized groups would ultimately weaken the nation’s moral and economic foundations.
“This vision remains highly relevant today, as Indonesia continues to strengthen social protection, expand opportunities, and reform the welfare system for all citizens,” he explained.
Furthermore, Gumilang appreciated the ongoing collaboration between FEB UGM and the ANU Indonesia Project, which continues to strengthen research networks and academic contributions between Indonesia and Australia.
Dr. Firman Witoelar, from ANU, emphasised the importance of reinforcing evidence-based public policy-making practices in Indonesia. He noted that governance and social development in Indonesia have undergone significant changes, marked by a growing commitment to more targeted policy formulation and programme design. However, research findings indicate a decline in confidence in the effectiveness of implementing several key social programs. This raises concerns about the impact and efficiency of policies, as well as the potential for inaccuracy in resource allocation. This forum offers a space for reflection on evidence-based policy practices, enabling social reform in Indonesia to be more effective. In addition, this forum provides a space for academic discussion and a platform to strengthen collaboration between researchers and policymakers in designing public policies that favour the community.
Reportage by: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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