Identifying the actual beneficiaries of toll road development policies in rural communities: ex-ante evaluation approaches

Abstract

AbstractThis paper focuses on policy evaluation, which is rarely conducted, particularly ex-ante evaluations. In Indonesia, evaluation of policy ideas before they implement the main objective for toll road development. There are various possibilities that these ideas and decisions are formulated based on incomplete problem identification, formulation, and advocacy that could be more optimal and legitimate issues. The study aims to identify the actual beneficiaries of toll road development policies in agrarian communities that focus on social cost-benefit analysis through the ex-ante evaluation In Indonesia. Data sources were selected based on objectives: local village officials and community members affected by road construction. The case study approach with thematic analysis shows that evaluation is needed to increase the likelihood of policy success, especially in the community, as the main objective of the policy. The description of the problems in the idea and policy decision of toll road construction focuses on the social-economic impact based on the implementation of road construction in the previous stage. The idea of toll road development must recognize the community’s dynamic conditions, including the community’s readiness to accept development results and participate in obtaining optimal results from development. Road development ideas are related to efforts to prepare the human capital of the surrounding community to participate and obtain more significant benefits from development results. Furthermore, we show the importance of community human resource readiness in toll road development as an effort to realize toll road development to reduce economic and social costs. Integrating ex-ante evaluation in toll road development policy provides an understanding of the importance of maximizing development benefits for the stakeholders involved.

Keywords

• Ex-ante evaluation
• toll road construction
• social cost benefit analysis
• Guangchao Charles Feng
• School of Communication
• Hong Kong Baptist University