Jokowi’s government has spent big on infrastructure over the past five years. Akhmad Misbakhul Hasan takes a look at where the money has come from, and where some – but not all – of it has gone.

The new Smart Pakem app is supposed to give the public a safe way to report “deviant” religious practices. But could it trigger persecution and conflict instead? Zainal Abidin Bagir weighs up the implications for religion and rights.

What are the drivers of regional disparity, what are its impacts, and what can the government do about it? As part of our ‘Policy in Focus’ series, Dr Dave McRae discusses these issues and more with Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro in a special episode of Talking Indonesia.

What could the government be doing to reduce inequality? Dr Asep Suryahadi examines the drivers and future of inequality, and suggests that despite government efforts, Indonesia may have to get used to higher levels of inequality.

Indonesia is still basking in the success of the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games. Slamet Thohari writes that while Indonesia deserves the plaudits it received, the Games also served to highlight outdated attitudes to people with disability.

How much do parents’ education levels affect the schooling of their children? Senza Arsendy presents the results of a recent study showing that despite concerns over the impact of growing economic inequality, educational mobility increased from 1997 to 2015.

In the first post in our new Policy in Focus series, Dr Ward Berenschot presents research looking at how common clientelism really is in Indonesia. A survey of more than 500 experts found that perceptions of clientelism varied considerably, and the character of local economies played an important role.