20th HW Arndt Lecture with Lisa Cameron
As part of the ANU Indonesia Project’s 60th anniversary celebrations, the 20th HW Arndt Lecture was delivered by Professor Lisa Cameron of the University of Melbourne, in partnership with the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics (ACDE) and the Crawford School of Public Policy. The annual lecture honours the late Professor Heinz Arndt, whose pioneering scholarship in development economics and Asia-Pacific regional studies helped lay the foundations for the ANU Indonesia Project more than six decades ago.
In her lecture, Professor Cameron addressed one of the most pressing demographic and economic challenges facing Indonesia: the approaching end of its demographic dividend. This dividend has provided an important boost to economic growth and productivity. However, this advantage is projected to close, raising urgent questions about how Indonesia can sustain growth in a changing demographic landscape.
Drawing comparisons with China, Professor Cameron highlighted how that country has managed to maintain high economic growth despite the decline of its own demographic dividend. She discussed whether Indonesia could achieve similar success, pointing to the role of labour market policies, human capital investment, and institutional capacity in navigating the transition.
The lecture was followed by a rich discussion with the audience, who engaged with questions on social policy, gender dynamics, and the structural reforms needed to adapt to a rapidly ageing society.