Interregional Inequalities in Indonesia: A Sectoral Decomposition Analysis for 1975–92

Abstract

In this paper we examine interregional income inequalities in Indonesia from 1975 to 1992, Williamson's weighted coefficient of variation is used to measure interregional income inequality. We also perform a sectoral decomposition analysis to investigate the extent to which industrial sectors contribute to the overall weighted coefficient of variation. One major finding is that, although interregional income inequality remained fairly stable in non-mining GDP during the study period, it has undergone a significant change in structure. The contribution of the tertiary sector to inequality, though still dominant, has gradually declined. The secondary sector, meanwhile, is playing an increasingly important role, reflecting its growing share of GDP. Inequality is much smaller in consumption expenditure than in non-mining GDP. Its consistently high levels in fixed capital formation reflect the uneven distribution of investments over space in Indonesia.