The Privatization of Metropolitan Jakarta’s (Jabodetabek) Urban Fringes: The Early Stages of “Post-Suburbanization” in Indonesia

Abstract

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Recent metropolitan development in developed countries is associated with “post-suburbia,” or a decline in population in the former central city and the growth of polycentric structures outside the traditional core. Current urban development in Asian cities, particularly in the Jakarta metropolitan region (Jabodetabek), also reflects an early stage of post-suburbia. We examine physical development patterns and the changing role of public and private sectors, although our approach is descriptive in nature. The rapid growth in fringe areas that have developed from dormitory communities into independent towns, triggered by privatization of industrial estates and multifunction new towns, shows typical post-suburban patterns. The national government's pro-growth economic policies and the local autonomy granted to local governments have given the private sector the power to largely control the acquisition, development, and management of land in fringe areas, accelerating post-suburban development patterns.

Takeaway for practice: Planners in developing nations must be alert to the rapidly increasing role of the private sector, recognizing how the private sector can help the government to respond to regional needs for housing, jobs, shopping and educational opportunities, and infrastructure while understanding the key role that planning can and should play in ensuring private sector actions do not exacerbate regional problems and lead to uncoordinated public responses.

Keywords:

• (post)-suburbanization
• privatization
• Jakarta
• Indonesia

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank two anonymous international referees for useful comments on an earlier draft of this article. However, we alone are responsible for any mistakes and shortcomings.

Notes

1.  Since 1999, when the city of Depok was formed, it has been called Jabodetabek.

2.  259 ha = 1 mi².

3.  Law 3/2014 on Industry and Government Regulation 142/2015 on Industrial Estates require industrial activities in Indonesia to be located within industrial estates.

4.  Government Regulation 142/2015 defines licensed industrial park companies as those holding permits from the government to manage industrial parks.

5.  Law 4/1992 on Housing and Settlement, now amended by Law 1/2011.

6.  The central government still develops spatial plans for the areas that have national interests or strategic values ( kawasan strategis nasional); thus, the central government prepares a spatial plan for Greater Jakarta (“ Jabodetabekpunjur”; President Regulation 54/2008).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tommy Firman

Tommy Firman ([email protected]) is a professor of regional planning in the School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development at Institut Teknologi Bandung.

Fikri Zul Fahmi  

Fikri Zul Fahmi ([email protected]) is with the School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development at Institut Teknologi Bandung and the Department of Economic Geography, Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen.