The dataset in this datapackage was constructed for the 'Indonesian Economic History' project, which has been a concerted effort of several researchers at different universities and research institutions. The aim of the project was to reconstruct the national accounts of Java (1815-1939) and of Indonesia (1900-2000) and to analyze the long-term evolution of the economy of Indonesia in this period. The reconstructed national accounts form the prime source of information about the economy's development over time. The national accounts provide an analytical framework for a more thorough understanding of changes and discontinuities in the economic performance of Indonesia.
This dataset was created to study the public finance of Indonesia for the period 1817-1940. For this period both the government revenue and government expenditure were reconstructed. It concerns only the central government, not the local authorities. This has to be kept in mind because from 1900 onwards an increasing part of the public finances were decentralized, so the figures become less representative for the government finances as a whole. The contributions from the central government to the local authorities have been included.
The figures represent the actual revenues received and expenditures made by the central government. These can differ quite a lot from the budgets. All figures are expressed in thousands of guilders.
