Indonesian Finance Minister Departure No Win-Win

Walter Lohman / May 07, 2010

The economic world for good reason is focused intently on Greece and the potential for financial contagion in Europe.  But there’s been another interesting development on America’s Pacific-side.  One of the of most talented public servants in Indonesia, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati – by some accounts, the world’s best finance minister – has resigned her cabinet post to take a position with the World Bank.

It’s always necessary to put Indonesia in some context.  For the record, it is the fourth largest country in the world by population.   It is the heart of Southeast Asia, representing 40% of the region’s 600 million people, more than 40% of its geographical area, and a third of its economy. (more…)