President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi) leadership over the past decade has been considered successful according to the Social Progress Index (SPI), an international benchmark that evaluates social well-being. The SPI is created by the Social Progress Imperative, a non-profit organization focused on improving human welfare by measuring a nation’s social performance.
Denny JA highlighted the credibility of the SPI, noting its collaborations with reputable organizations like Deloitte and the World Economic Forum. The SPI assesses social progress through indicators such as basic human needs, well-being, and opportunities, offering a non-economic perspective on a country’s development.
In 2014, Indonesia scored 61.65 on the SPI, ranking 92nd globally. By 2023, the score had increased to 67.22, moving Indonesia up to the 80th position. Denny JA stated that this improvement signifies the enhancement of social welfare under Jokowi’s leadership.
Unlike traditional economic indicators like GDP, the SPI looks beyond economic growth to evaluate social well-being. It measures a country’s ability to meet its citizens’ basic needs, promote well-being, and create opportunities for the population, providing a comprehensive view of quality of life.
The SPI report shows that Indonesia has made significant progress under Jokowi in addressing fundamental needs, expanding access to education and healthcare, and enhancing economic opportunities. Despite challenges in equality and environmental protection, Indonesia’s improved SPI score and ranking indicate progress towards enhancing social welfare.
Denny JA concluded that based on the SPI, Jokowi’s tenure can be considered successful, but emphasized the need for more efforts to achieve social equality and justice in all regions of Indonesia.
