Could gender equality boost the Indonesian economy?

Monash Business School PhD candidate Alamanda.

10 June 2026

In Indonesia, women contribute only about one-third of the total income; their labour force participation is roughly 30 per cent lower than that of men, and many are employed in informal sectors without protection or benefits.

At the same time, more than half of the country’s working-age population is female.

For Department of Business Law and Taxation PhD candidate Alamanda, the disconnect is impossible to ignore.

“Gender inequality remains a pressing issue in Indonesia,” he said.

A tax officer with 18 years’ experience at the Directorate General of Taxes in Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance, Alamanda sees a critical window of opportunity for reform.

“Indonesia is currently experiencing a demographic bonus, with 178 million people in the productive working-age bracket, and half of them are women,” he said.

“Women’s economic participation and potential are just as important as men’s, and fully leveraging it can benefit society and the economy,” he said.

Measuring the cost of inequality

Alamanda’s research examines how gender inequality affects Indonesia’s income tax system and what happens to revenue when those gaps narrow.

“I aim to understand both the economic and the fiscal consequences of unequal outcomes between men and women,” he said.

He is testing an assumption that has rarely been examined in Indonesia - whether fairness and fiscal performance are linked.

Using microsimulation modelling and 200,000 individual records from the National Labour Force Survey, he estimates how changes in women’s wages and workforce participation could affect income tax collections.

“My research aims to provide empirical evidence to support the development of a more gender-responsive tax framework in Indonesia, showing that improving gender equality is not only socially or morally right, but it is also fiscally smart,” he said.

Alamanda’s supervisor, Associate Professor John Minas, said the research addresses a growing policy challenge for governments worldwide.

“The research is of importance given that many national governments are examining tax policy and gender equality,” A/Prof Minas said.

“Alamanda’s research findings can inform tax policy in Indonesia and other jurisdictions.”

From research to policy

At Monash Business School, Alamanda has found space to test policy ideas with academic rigour.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my experience at Monash Business School has been the incredible support from my supervisors, colleagues, and staff, particularly in the Department of Business Law and Taxation,” he said.

After completing his doctorate, he plans to return to Indonesia and continue his work at the Ministry of Finance.

For now, his focus remains on finishing the research and ensuring it reaches policy conversations.

“What motivates me is having a purpose every day and feeling that I can contribute in some way,” he said.

“It does not have to be a monumental change; just striving to be a better person than I was yesterday, or helping someone close to me improve their day, is enough to inspire me to get up and give my best every single day.

Read about other Monash Business School PhD students making real-world impact.