Dalam studi di banyak negara, dimensi regional dari pembangunan ekonomi mendapat perhatian yang serius. Hal ini umumnya berkaitan dengan masalah regional equality dan spatial distribution resources.Di Indonesia, sebagaimana di negara besar dunia ke-3 lainnya, daerah selalu mendapat perhatian khusus. Tak ada negara yang memiliki keragaman seperti Indonesia dalam ekologi, demografi, ekonomi, etnis, dan budaya. Begitu pula dalam aspek wilayah, tak ada negara yang menyamai Indonesia dalam hal keunikan geografi yang menempatkan Indonesia sebagai negara kepulauan terbesar di dunia.Persatuan nasional telah menjadi komponen utama negara sejak negara ini merintis kemerdekaannya. Demikian pentingnya hal ini sampai jargon persatuan nasional telah menjadi sesuatu yang klasik di Indonesia. Semua rezim yang berkuasa selalu menempatkan masalah persatuan nasional ini sebagai prioritas tertinggi.

Studi ini menelaah eksistensi disparitas pendapatan regional di Indonesia. Dengan mempergunakan kerangka teori pertumbuhan neoklasik dan teori pertumbuhan endogen, studi ini menemukan bahwa tingkat konvergensi regional di Indonesia adalah rendah. Perbedaan dalam tingkat pertumbuhan secara sistematis dapat dijelaskan oleh sejumlah variabel penjelas.Perlakuan regresi yang mengizinkan fungsi produksi berbeda-beda untuk setiap perekonomian, menghasilkan estimasi kecepatan konvergensi yang jauh lebih tinggi. Hal ini mengindikasikan bahwa perbedaan tingkat teknologi antar propinsi adalah besar. Jika perbedaan dalam tingkat teknologi antar propinsi ini menghilang, maka konvergensi akan terjadi secara cepat.Dengan analisa konvergensi teknologi, studi ini menemukan bahwa mekanisme utama yang berada dibalik konvergensi regional adalah pengejaran TFP (Total Factor Productivity). Peranan pengejaran TFP ini jauh lebih dominan dibandingkan dengan akumulasi faktor. Dengan pendekatan transfer teknologi, studi ini membedakan antara konvergensi yang dihasilkan dari akumulasi faktor dan konvergensi yang dihasilkan dari transfer teknologi. Hasil analisa menunjukkan bahwa transfer teknologi memainkan peranan tidak kecil dalam konvergensi di Indonesia. Hal ini menegaskan temuan sebelumnya bahwa perbedaan tingkat teknologi antar propinsi adalah sangat lebar. Bila perbedaan ini menghilang, maka kita berharap bahwa transfer teknologi akan berjalan jauh lebih cepat. Transfer teknologi yang lebih cepat ini akan membawa pada konvergensi pendapatan yang juga lebih cepat.

This paper aims to determine the effectiveness of zakat utilization based on Integrated Community Development (ICD) to affect the improvement of welfare. This study not only measures the level of welfare of the community but also mustahiq community members in Mekarwangi Village after the intervention of ICD-based zakat program. Recently, this research is still infrequent; further, there is no standardized assessment tool to measure the welfare of mustahiq community. This paper used Zakat Village Index instrument to measure the welfare of mustahiq community and CIBEST model to measure welfare of mustahiq community members.By using mixed method approach and multi stage cluster sampling by an interview by questioner.The results showed that the ICD-based zakat utilization program in Mekarwangi Village was quite successful but not significant in improving community welfare with the result of the Zakat village index of 0.59 influenced by the low economic dimension by 0.32 and the spread of the ICD program of Rumah Zakat that has not been evenly distributed in Mekarwangi Village. After intervention by ICD-based zakat program is able to increase welfare index of the mustahiq community members by 67 percent. The material poverty index, spiritual poverty and absolute poverty index can also be reduced by 36 percent, 11 percent and 20 percent,respectively.

Recently convergence of regional per capita income has been a frequent object of regional studies as well as the case of Indonesia. However, different methods often yield different results therefore we ty to choose the appropriate methods. Rather alpha-convergence, we use theil index to analyze regional disparity and found that regional convergence in Indonesia does not appear to be a simple monotonic process, but seems to vary over time and hence requires explanation. From here, we suggest that the use of long-term interval in regression of beta-convergence analysis will destroy the relationship among variables. The use of least square methods only suitable for absolute beta-convergence analysis. We conclude that the most appropriate methods for conditional beta-convergence are instrumental methods. As an alternative one, we suggest panel-data methods.We found that the convergence rate in Indonesia is slow at 1,59 percent per year over 1975-2000. With conditional convergence analysis, we found that the difference on growth rate can be explained systematically by a set of explanatory variables. The inclusion of these variables makes the convergence rate become faster which is 3,91 percent per year. Most of this variables are under controlled by government. In summary, we conclude that government policies have significant influence for rapid and sustainable regional economic growth.

In the implementation of regional autonomy and decentralization systems, the discourse on the pattern of power relations between the Regional Head and the Regional Representative Council (DPRD) is an interesting study. This is because in practice, the ups and downs of the relationship between the Regional Head and the Regional Parliament are influenced by the political dynamics that develop in the region, as was the case in the conflict between the Governor and the Regional Parliament of DKI Jakarta. Determination of the 2015 APBD. not only attracted a lot of public attention, but more importantly this case was a bad precedent for the administration of regional government. Starting from this, this study aims to analyze the factors that cause conflicts between the Governor and the DKI Jakarta DPRD in the 2015 APBD Determination, and to understand the patterns used in resolving political conflicts between the Governor of the DKI Jakarta DPRD in the 2015 APBD Determination.In order to answer the research problem, the theory used uses the theory put forward by Paul M. Collier who states that in general political conflict is caused by two things, namely because of differences in interests, and the seizure of scarce or very limited resources. While the theory of political conflict resolution used by Simon Fisher's theory, which states the pattern of conflict resolution is divided into three ways, namely negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. In accordance with the objectives to be achieved, this study was designed using qualitative research methods, with a case study approach. From the research findings, it is stated that the main factors causing conflict between the Governor and the DKI Jakarta DPRD in determining the 2015 APBD are the divided local government factor, and the difference in political interests between the Governor and the DKI Jakarta DPRD. The conflict between the Governor and the DKI Jakarta DPRD finally found a common ground after a long process of resolution. The pattern of conflict resolution used is a mediation approach, by involving the Indonesian Ministry of Internal Affairs in resolving the conflict, to find a meeting point that is mutually beneficial to both parties.