Do Local Government Policies Lead to Inclusive Development? Evidence from West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24256/kharaj.v8i4.12988Keywords:
inclusive development; inequality; poverty; regional development; West Nusa Tenggara.Abstract
Inclusive development requires that economic growth be accompanied by a more equitable distribution of benefits, wider access to basic services, and a reduction in inter-regional disparities. This article evaluates the dynamics of inclusive development in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province by comparing economic, social, and regional indicators across the terms of two governors, Dr. TGH. Zainul Majdi and Dr. Zulkieflimansyah. The study uses a descriptive-comparative approach with secondary data reported in the research report, covering gross regional domestic product (GRDP), the Gini index, the percentage of poor people, the open unemployment rate, mean years of schooling, life expectancy, social assistance recipients, and GRDP per capita growth. The descriptive results show that changes in the indicators are not uniform across periods and dimensions. During the Zainul Majdi period, the report records a declining trend in poverty and improvements in several indicators, while disparities among regencies/cities remained a challenge. During the Zulkieflimansyah period, several indicators fluctuated in the context of external shocks, including earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic, while regional disparities remained visible. These findings indicate the need for development evaluation that does not rely solely on aggregate growth but also examines the distribution of outcomes, access to basic services, and spatial inequality. Because the analysis is descriptive and does not apply a validated composite index or a causal identification strategy, the results are not interpreted as estimates of the causal impact of any particular leadership or program.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Iwan Harsono, Endang Astuti, Wahyunadi, Ade Paranata
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