Optimum: Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan

Gorontalo city's strategy as a plastic waste-free coastal city 2030: Qualitative SWOT analysis and blue economy

2025-10-26T11:13:00+00:00

The phenomenon of the distribution of coastal plastic waste is dynamic—triggered by currents, winds, waves, and extreme events—so static policies fail to maintain the cleanliness of destinations. Gorontalo's main problems include drainage-estuary leaks, cross-OPD data standards that are not yet uniform, and the performance of WWTP that has not included microplastic fractions. This study aims to map the governance SWOT, estimate the economic benefits of the ecosystem for the competitiveness of blue tourism, and analyze economic-environmental vulnerabilities to formulate a roadmap for 2026–2030. Using qualitative research case studies, the data were collected through in-depth interviews, FGDs, destination-estuary observations, and document review (policies, visits, cleaning operations, WWTP). Framework/Thematic analysis is mapped to a SWOT matrix and downgraded to TOWS. Results: identified strengths (OPD–community commitments, basic facilities, GIS capacity), weaknesses (data, transport logistics, microplastics), opportunities (EPR, green procurement, mixed finance), and threats (storms/floods, re-beaching, greenwashing). The finding shows that data standardization, forecast-based rapid capture SOPs, and microplastic testing in WWTP raise hygiene scores, accelerate recovery, and increase length of stay. Discussion: findings confirm the linkage between water quality–logistics operations–destination reputation. GIS integration, performance-based service contracts, and "blue destination" labels lock in market compliance. This study is important because it integrates coastal science, water governance, and destination economics into an executable policy framework. Implication of the study to use measurable roadmap (indicators, targets, person in charge, public audit). Further studies are suggested on policy trials and strengthening of cross-season sensor datasets.

The Dynamics of Micro and Small Industries and Poverty: A Geographical Perspective with Panel Data Evidence

2025-11-10T08:36:25+00:00

Despite government efforts, including initiatives like cash transfer programmes, food assistance schemes, and the existence of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), poverty remains a persistent problem in Indonesia. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results on the extent to which MSMEs impact poverty reduction efforts. This study examines the effects of micro and small-scale industries on poverty levels in Indonesia, with a particular emphasis on regional disparities between Java and non-Java provinces, as well as between Western and Eastern regions. The analysis utilises panel data from 34 provinces spanning the period from 2017 to 2023, employing panel regression models. The findings indicate that growth in output and employment within small and micro industries is linked to higher poverty levels, suggesting that structural limitations, including low productivity, restricted access to capital, and the prevalence of enterprises focused on survival, hinder their effectiveness in reducing poverty. Research in the region shows that the negative consequence is more apparent in Java and Western Indonesia, primarily due to population pressures and existing wage systems. Unemployment has a significant impact on increasing poverty levels, whereas economic growth helps to decrease them. The Human Development Index (HDI) showed no statistically significant effect. In summary, the research indicates that micro and small enterprises have not yet demonstrated efficacy in poverty alleviation in Indonesia.

Sustainable development challenges in Indonesia: A macroeconomics approach to finance, energy, and environment

2025-12-12T03:17:10+00:00

This study aims to examine the relationships among credit dynamics, foreign direct investment, energy, economic growth, and environmental degradation in Indonesia from 1990 to 2024. Using a quantitative path analysis, this study examines the direct and indirect effects of working capital credit, consumer credit, foreign direct investment (FDI), and electricity consumption on environmental degradation via economic growth. The results reveal that all variables have a positive and significant effect on economic growth, with electricity consumption (β = 0.361; p < 0.007) being the primary contributor. Economic growth and electricity consumption also significantly increase environmental degradation, supporting the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in Indonesia. Moreover, the analysis of indirect effects shows that economic growth mediates the relationships among credit distribution, FDI, and environmental degradation. This research is important because it examines sustainable development in Indonesia, where economic growth driven by the financial sector, FDI, and electricity consumption could increase carbon emissions and environmental degradation. These findings are relevant because they provide empirical evidence on the impact of financial and energy activities on environmental quality, both directly and through economic growth, in line with Indonesia's commitment to the SDGs and the green economy transition.

The role of digitalization in the business turnover of women owned textile MSMEs in traditional markets: Evidence from Klewer market, Surakarta

2025-11-17T04:15:35+00:00

Women-owned Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia play a crucial role in economic development. Yet, they still face challenges such as limited market access, capital, and digital literacy. Despite high female participation, their contribution to GDP remains stagnant, highlighting the need for more effective empowerment strategies. This study aims to examine the role of digitalization—including e-commerce, social media, digital bookkeeping, and digital payment methods—on the business turnover of women entrepreneurs in Klewer Market, Surakarta. This study contributes to the literature on women's entrepreneurship by providing empirical evidence from a traditional market context, highlighting both the opportunities and limitations of digital adoption. Quantitative methods were employed, utilizing survey data from 150 women-owned MSMEs selected through purposive sampling. Multiple linear regression using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) was applied to assess the effect of digitalization on turnover. The results indicate that three aspects of digitalization—e-commerce, social media, and digital payments—have a positive and significant effect on business turnover, while digital bookkeeping has no significant impact due to low adoption. Most entrepreneurs still operate with low turnover, and only a few achieve higher revenues, indicating an unequal distribution of the benefits of digitalization. E-commerce expands market reach, social media strengthens customer relationships, and digital payments improve efficiency and accountability. However, gaps in digital and financial literacy continue to have broader impacts. In conclusion, digitalization is a strategic tool for improving women's business performance, but its success requires stronger digital literacy and technical support to ensure inclusive benefits in traditional markets.

The transition from exhaustible to renewable resources: Investigating the dynamic effect of natural resources and monetary liquidity on consumption of renewable energy

2025-12-09T02:19:49+00:00

The global shift towards renewable energy is central to climate change mitigation, yet adoption remains uneven, particularly in resource-rich economies where financial liquidity constraints and fossil fuel dependence persist. This study advances the literature by providing a novel integrated analysis of how financial liquidity, digitalisation, and institutional quality jointly shape renewable energy adoption in both resource-abundant and resource-scarce economies. Using a dynamic panel data model, the research examines interactions among financial depth, digital advancements, and institutional quality in 124 economies, showing that good governance and financial policies can convert resource wealth into renewable energy drivers. Results indicate that broad money significantly predicts renewable energy usage, dependent on regulatory frameworks that encourage green investments. The traditional resource curse hypothesis is challenged, demonstrating that strong regulations can utilise natural wealth for sustainable energy transitions. This study contributes new evidence to the renewable energy–finance nexus and suggests that policymakers should focus on financial instruments supporting green initiatives, enhancing digital infrastructure, and enforcing solid governance. Resource-rich countries can maximise their energy potential by aligning monetary policies with sustainability objectives, fostering a cleaner and more sustainable future.

The impact of fiscal decentralization on tourism development in Java Island: A study of district/city level data

2025-12-14T22:27:15+00:00

Java Island was the center of tourism activities in Indonesia and contributed the most to national tourist activity. However, the development of tourism among regions in Java Island still showed imbalances. Significant variations between regions indicated the need for a local-based approach to maximize tourism potential. In this context, fiscal decentralization plays an important role because it gives local governments more flexibility to manage local resources and design development policies according to the characteristics of their regions. This study aimed to analyze how fiscal decentralization influenced tourism development on Java Island and whether its impact differed across tourist segments. The analysis method used in this study was panel data regression with data from districts/cities during the 2010–2023 period. The results showed that fiscal decentralization contributed positively and significantly to the total number of tourists. However, there are differences in the impact between international and domestic tourists. Fiscal decentralization did not influence international tourist arrivals, but had a positive effect on domestic tourists. These findings indicated that the mechanism of strengthening regional fiscal capacity has not been able to attract international tourists, but it effectively stimulated domestic tourist movement through improvements in public services, local infrastructure, and tourism facilities. Thus, fiscal decentralization can be positioned as a strategic policy instrument to strengthen domestic tourism performance, while the development of international tourists required the support of macroeconomic factors and cross-regional policies that are not addressed at the district/city level.

Reducing property valuation bias through Random Forests: Predicting prices for public asset optimization

2025-05-09T01:10:10+00:00

This study applies supervised machine learning, specifically the Random Forest regression algorithm, to predict office rental prices in DKI Jakarta. A dataset was compiled via web scraping of online property listings, incorporating features such as location, office area, number of floors, lifts, parking capacity, and building grade. Data preprocessing involved handling missing values, removing outliers, applying one-hot encoding, and normalizing the data to ensure consistency. The model was developed using the CRISP-DM framework and evaluated through an 80:20 train-test split and 10-fold cross-validation. Performance metrics included Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and R². The Random Forest model achieved high accuracy, with cross-validation yielding an R² of 0.934 and an RMSE of Rp16.288 per m²/month. SHAP analysis revealed that lifts, floors, parking, office area, and building grade significantly influenced predictions. Bias analysis indicated a tendency to underestimate rents for grade B and C buildings. The model was also simulated to estimate rental values of underutilized government-owned offices, supporting asset optimization amid the planned capital relocation. These results demonstrate the potential of machine learning to improve valuation practices, reduce bias, and enhance decision-making in public asset management.

Export efficiency and determinants of Indonesian spices exports to major destination countries

2025-10-19T03:53:04+00:00

Indonesian spice exports (HS 0904 to 0910) have been a major contributor to non-oil and gas exports. One issue related to spice exports is that their performance often fluctuates and does not truly reflect the "full potential" that can actually be achieved. Therefore, this study seeks to answer two questions: how efficient Indonesian spice exports are and what factors most determine their performance in eleven key destination markets from 2012 to 2023. The method used is the Stochastic Frontier Gravity Model (SFGM), which estimates the influence of economic factors and sources of inefficiency within a single framework. With this analytical method, export performance is not only assessed based on actual figures but also directly compared with their maximum potential. Based on the estimation results, Indonesia's real GDP, the real exchange rate, and economic distance are negatively related to spice exports. Conversely, partner country GDP and government effectiveness in destination countries have a positive and significant impact. The efficiency estimate shows a moderate figure, with an average of only 54.17%. Among the partner countries studied, India was the most efficient market (88.20%), while Japan ranked lowest (5.39%). The Covid-19 dummy factor did not prove statistically significant. Overall, these findings indicate wide differences in efficiency across destination countries. Therefore, future strategies should not simply focus on increasing export volumes but also focus on improving efficiency, strengthening logistics competitiveness, and expanding export destinations to maximize Indonesia's spice export performance.

Downstream policy in Indonesia: Does it support energy security?

2026-01-12T01:06:14+00:00

The downstream policy in the mining sector aims to enhance the added value and competitiveness of national industries in a dynamic global market. This policy also impacts domestic energy security. This study examines whether Indonesia’s mining downstream policy supports energy security. Using panel data for 34 provinces from 2017 to 2022, we proxy downstreaming by mining sector value added. Energy security is measured by a composite index constructed with Principal Component Analysis from four dimensions: availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability. Fixed-effects panel estimates indicate that stronger downstream activity is associated with higher overall energy security, driven mainly by improvements in supply and access indicators such as installed generation capacity, electricity generation, and household electrification. In contrast, the estimated effect of downstreaming on the electricity price (tariff) measure is statistically insignificant, implying no robust evidence that downstreaming changes retail electricity prices over the study period. The findings suggest that downstream policy contributes to energy security primarily through capacity expansion and wider access, while affordability outcomes are likely shaped by other mechanisms, including regulated pricing and region-specific cost structures. The study provides province-level evidence to inform downstream strategies that better align industrial objectives with energy security goals.

PESTEL analysis of green tourism development based on Lumbung Mataraman: Comparative study of Bantul and Kulon Progo regencies

2026-01-22T02:22:30+00:00

Green tourism initiatives tend to prioritize physical development and agricultural outputs, while insufficient attention is given to the integration of political coordination, economic value chain strengthening, social participation, technological innovation, environmental management, and legal-institutional arrangements. As a result, the development of Lumbung Mataraman-based green tourism remains fragmented and context-dependent, limiting its capacity to function as a comprehensive and sustainable development model. Addressing this gap, this study conducts a comparative analysis of green tourism development under the Lumbung Mataraman initiative in Bantul and Kulon Progo Regencies using the PESTEL framework. A qualitative comparative approach was employed through in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis, with all data coded and thematically analyzed using NVivo. The results reveal contrasting development patterns: Bantul demonstrates a governance-driven model marked by cross-sectoral integration and collaborative networks, while Kulon Progo exhibits a commodity-driven model dominated by plantation-based agrotourism with limited diversification. By extending the application of PESTEL to community-based green tourism linked to food security initiatives, this study offers a comparative conceptualization of differentiated development models that can inform more context-sensitive and adaptive regional tourism policies.