Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

Three students from the Faculty of Economics and Business of Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM) participated in the 2nd International Congress of Finance and Tax (www.iksadinstitute.org/finance) held at Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey, from November 8 to 10.

This conference brought together academics and researchers from various countries worldwide to discuss current issues related to finance, taxation, and sustainable development. Participants came from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kosovo, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The three participants of the FEB UGM were Dr. Rita Handayani, SEI, M.Si., a post-doctoral student, and Maria Yuvita Gobay and Diana Sapha, both Ph.D. students in Economics.

During the event, Rita presented her research entitled "The Impact of Infrastructure Spending on Macroeconomic Conditions: A Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) Model Approach. Conducted in collaboration with Prof. Catur Sugiyanto (UGM) and Jumadil Putra, Ph.D. (University of Trengganu Malaysia), the study highlighted the role of infrastructure investment in promoting economic recovery and sustainable transformation in Indonesia, especially after COVID-19 and amidst global economic challenges.

Using 2020-2023 infrastructure expenditure data and GAMS software, Rita's research found that infrastructure development policies positively impacted economic growth, job creation in various sectors, and household income. In addition, the findings supported the achievement of SDG Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), which emphasizes equitable development across provinces as a form of social justice.

Meanwhile, Maria Yuvita Gobay and Diana Sapha presented research that addressed strategic issues in sustainable development. Maria presented her study titled "Women Empowerment Program (PKK) and Women's Health: A Case Study from Papua and Eastern Indonesia. Using data from the 2012 Indonesian Family Life Survey East (IFLS East) and a probit model approach, her research found that the dasawisma initiatives in the PKK program improved women's health by 7.79%, supporting SDG Goals 3 (health and well-being) and 5 (gender equality).

Diana Sapha, on the other hand, presented her research titled "Health and Education Spending and Aging Population in Indonesia," which examined the challenges that an aging population poses to health and education budgets. Based on data from 514 districts and cities in Indonesia (2018-2022), her study supported SDG Goals 3 (good health and well-being), 4 (quality education), and 10 (reduced inequalities). It recommended adaptive fiscal policies to address demographic changes.

The participation of FEB UGM students in this conference reflects their active role in bringing Indonesia's strategic issues to the global stage. By presenting data-driven research with local perspectives, they not only contribute solutions to sustainable development challenges but also demonstrate the significant role of Indonesian academics in the global scientific arena.

Source: PR MD FEB
Writer: Orie Priscylla Mapeda Lumalan
Editor:Kurnia Ekaptiningrum

Sustainable Development Goals