Sober Facts: Autocratic Egypt and Tunisia Are Richer Than Democratic Indonesia

I often heard on Indonesia’s TV station in which the middle-east “experts” analyzed that poverty was one of the culprits of recent Arab’s revolution. It is true for Yemen, but not for Tunisia and Egypt. Let’s fiddle with figures.

Compared to Indonesia’s income per capita, Tunisia’s and Egypt’s are higher. According to CIA Factbook, Indonesia’s reaches USD 4,300, while Tunisia’s and Egypt’s amounts USD 9,500 and USD 6,200, respectively. It is true that Yemenis is poorer than Indonesians. Accordingly in terms of prosperity, apart from Yemenis, there is no reason to revolt.

By instinct, incomes distribution must be the next reason to topple the government. It might be true for Tunisia, but not for Egypt and Yemen. Based on UNDP data, Tunisia’s Gini Coeffient stands at 39.8. This is higher than Egypt, Yemen and Indonesia where the coefficient recorded 34, 33.4, 34.3, respectively. It means the income gap between the rich and the poor is much wider in Tunisia than in the remaining countries. The income ratio of the richest 10% and 20% also put Tunisia at the highest rank of inequality. As far income equality concerns, Egyptians and Yemenis thereby are going too far.

The next thing why people are up in arms with government is: inflation! Based on CIA Factbook, Egypt and Yemen experience high inflation of more than 12%. Tunisia’s inflation is on par with Indonesia around 4.5-5%.

From these indicators, Yemenis has the most reason to oust its leader. The Yemen’s leader’s effort to prosper the people is to no avail. They become poor as well as suffer from high price. Hosni Mubarak fails because of high inflation reminiscent of Indonesia’s woes in 1998. At last, poor Ben Ali, he did manage to make his people rich. Tunisia is much prosperous even compared to Indonesia. But unfortunately he didn't succeed in distributing income.

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