We Want to Address Some Things Here, Namely Income Inequality and the Widening Wealth Gap

Over the years, some of you have asked whether Kuartal is “neutral” or “unbiased.” And the funny thing is, we’ve never claimed to be. I certainly haven’t made such claims. We have always had an angle, so to speak. We have principles that we believe in when it comes to what we believe is right and what we believe is fair.

What I have always claimed is that here at Kuartal we aim to be fair — in how we report, how we present data, and how we analyze economic and financial issues. Our team comes from diverse professional backgrounds — finance, macroeconomics, startups, policy, capital markets — and we don’t all think the same way. That diversity has always shaped how we approach our work.

But fairness doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine.

And increasingly, it’s clear that everything is not fine.

Inequality is rising.
The cost of living keeps climbing.
Many Indonesians are not earning a livable wage.
Savings are difficult. Investment can only do so much.
Wealth continues concentrating among a small group.
Corruption remains high.
Investment into education, social protection, and the real economy remains insufficient.

And yes — we believe public policy today is not serving everyday Indonesians as well as it should.

We built Kuartal around increasing financial literacy, empowering small business owners, supporting startup founders, and helping people grow their wealth. That mission does not change.

But we also recognize that telling individuals to “just invest” or “just save better” is incomplete advice in a system that makes structural mobility difficult.

There are too many glaring issues to ignore.

If we truly want a society where people can earn a livable wage, build security, retire with dignity, and participate meaningfully in economic growth — then policy changes, institutional reform, and systemic shifts are necessary.

Going forward, Kuartal will lean more directly into these realities.

We will:

Continue improving financial literacy.

Continue supporting entrepreneurs and wealth builders.

But also speak more openly about structural constraints.

Advocate for reforms we believe are necessary.

Be transparent about our positions.

We are not shifting toward outrage.
We are shifting toward clarity.

Economic media cannot only analyze markets — it must also confront the system those markets operate in.

We’re committed to doing both.

As always, we welcome disagreement, debate, and constructive criticism. That’s part of building a healthier economic discourse.

Diemas Sukma Hawkins
Founder and CEO, Kuartal