Social safety nets, Indonesia.

Abstract

When Indonesia sank into economic crisis in 1998, large numbers of people were pushed into poverty. In response, the government introduced a new, more formal, social safety net. Its overall purpose was to help the poor and the newly poor cope with the impact of the economic crisis. In particular, it set out to: ensure the availability of food at affordable prices; supplement households' purchasing power through employment creation; preserve access to critical social services, particularly health and education; and sustain local economic activity through regional grants and small-scale credits. The objectives, lessons learned, background, details, and impacts are outlined.

Citation

Inter-Regional Inequality Facility Policy Brief 5, Overseas Development Institute, UK, 4 pp.

Social safety nets, Indonesia.

Published 1 January 2006