Exploring The Drivers of Inflation in Indonesia: A Quantitative ‎Analysis

  • Authors

    • Muhammad Yusuf Faculty of Economics, Universitas Negeri Medan, Sumatra Utara, Indonesia
    • Muhammad Fitri Rahmadana Faculty of Economics, Universitas Negeri Medan, Sumatra Utara, Indonesia
    • Oktavera Rizki Sharia Capital Market Expert
    https://doi.org/10.14419/mkz47133

    Received date: December 31, 2025

    Accepted date: January 26, 2026

    Published date: February 8, 2026

  • Inflation; Macroeconomic; Vector Autoregression (VAR); Vector Error Correction Model (VECM); Monetary Policy
  • Abstract

    Inflation is a crucial macroeconomic indicator that affects various economic variables and requires effective policy responses. In Indonesia, Bank Indonesia plays a central role in maintaining price stability through monetary policy. This ‎study examines the short- and long-term impacts of several macroeconomic variables on inflation using quarterly data ‎from 2009 to 2023, employing the Vector Autoregression (VAR) and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) approach-‎es. The results show that in the short term, money supply (M1) negatively affects inflation, while interest rates have a ‎positive effect. Other variables, such as exchange rate, GDP, exports, and imports, also exhibit negative effects in the ‎short term. In the long run, M1, GDP, exports, and imports significantly affect inflation, with exchange rate, interest rates, ‎and imports showing a positive relationship. Granger causality indicates a bidirectional relationship between GDP and ‎M1. These findings suggest the importance of controlling money supply, promoting exports, managing imports, and stabilizing the exchange rate. Overall, Indonesia’s inflation control policies appear relatively effective, with the diminishing ‎impact of inflation shocks over time. Further research is encouraged to deepen the understanding of causal relationships ‎among these variables‎.

  • References

    1. Albulescu, C. T., Aubin, C., & Goyeau, D. (2017). Stock prices, inflation, and inflation uncertainty in the U.S.: Testing the long-run relationship considering Dow Jones sector indexes. Applied Economics, 49(18), 1794–1807. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2016.1226491.
    2. Armantier, O., Koşar, G., Pomerantz, R., Skandalis, D., Smith, K., Topa, G., & van der Klaauw, W. (2021). How economic crises affect inflation beliefs: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 189, 443–469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.04.036.
    3. Bindseil, U. (2014). Monetary policy operations and the financial system. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198716907.001.0001.
    4. Bonatti, L., Fracasso, A., & Tamborini, R. (2022). What to expect from inflation expectations: Theory, empirics, and policy issues.
    5. Brill, M. C., Nautz, D., & Sieckmann, L. (2021). Divisia monetary aggregates for a heterogeneous euro area. Empirica, 48(1), 247–278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10663-020-09487-1.
    6. Campolmi, A., & Faia, E. (2011). Labor market institutions and inflation volatility in the euro area. Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 35(5), 793–812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jedc.2010.07.001
    7. Chernov, M., & Mueller, P. (2012). The term structure of inflation expectations. Journal of Financial Economics, 106(2), 367–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2012.06.004
    8. Chirinko, R. S., & Fazzari, S. M. (2000). Market power and inflation. Review of Economics and Statistics, 82(3), 509–513. https://doi.org/10.1162/003465300558867.
    9. Cochrane, J. H. (2023). The fiscal theory of the price level. Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv2sbm8kh.
    10. Coibion, O., & Gorodnichenko, Y. (2015). Information rigidity and the expectations formation process: A simple framework and new facts. Ameri-can Economic Review, 105(8), 2644–2678. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20110306.
    11. Coibion, O., Gorodnichenko, Y., & Kamdar, R. (2018). The formation of expectations, inflation, and the Phillips curve. Journal of Economic Liter-ature, 56(4), 1447–1491. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20171300.
    12. Damanik, D., & Panjaitan, P. D. (2022). Factors affecting inflation in four cities in North Sumatra Province. Bircu Journal, 5(1).
    13. Don Sama Lelo, Y., Dwi Astuti, R., & Suharsih, S. (2018). The determinants of inflation in Indonesia: A partial adjustment model approach. Jurnal Ekonomi & Studi Pembangunan, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.18196/jesp.19.2.5007.
    14. Duarte, M., & Restuccia, D. (2010). The role of structural transformation in aggregate productivity. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 125(1), 129–173. https://doi.org/10.1162/qjec.2010.125.1.129.
    15. Endri. (2009). Analysis of factors influencing inflation in Indonesia. Economic Journal of Emerging Markets, 13(1).
    16. Evans, G. W., & Honkapohja, S. (2006). Monetary policy, expectations, and commitment. Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 108(1), 15–38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9442.2006.00437.x.
    17. Finck, D., & Tillmann, P. (2022). The role of global and domestic shocks for inflation dynamics: Evidence from Asia. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 84(5), 1181–1208. https://doi.org/10.1111/obes.12495.
    18. Galí, J., & Gambetti, L. (2015). The effects of monetary policy on stock market bubbles: Some evidence. American Economic Journal: Macroeco-nomics, 7(1), 233–257. https://doi.org/10.1257/mac.20140003.
    19. Gujarati, D. (2004). Basic econometrics (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
    20. Güneş, K., Mohanty, M., & Morley, J. (2021). What drives inflation in advanced and emerging market economies? BIS Papers, No. 111.
    21. Kimbrough, K. P., Darby, M. R., Lothian, J. R., Gandolfi, A. E., Schwartz, A. J., & Stockman, A. C. (1985). The international transmission of in-flation. Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, 17(1), 118–134. https://doi.org/10.2307/1992512.
    22. Krause, M. U., Lopez-Salido, D., & Lubik, T. A. (2008). Inflation dynamics with search frictions: A structural econometric analysis. Journal of Monetary Economics, 55(5), 892–916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoneco.2008.04.004.
    23. Lane, P. R. (1997). Inflation in open economies. Journal of International Economics, 42(3–4), 327–347. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1996(96)01442-0.
    24. Mavroeidis, S., Plagborg-Møller, M., & Stock, J. H. (2014). Empirical evidence on inflation expectations in the New Keynesian Phillips curve. Journal of Economic Literature, 52(1), 124–188. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.52.1.124.
    25. McLure, M. (2013). Reflections on the quantity theory. Revue Européenne des Sciences Sociales, (51–2), 173–192. https://doi.org/10.4000/ress.2571
    26. Mndebele, S., Tewari, D. D., & Ilesanmi, K. D. (2023). Testing the validity of the quantity theory of money on sectoral data: Non-linear evidence from South Africa. Economies, 11(2), 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies11020071.
    27. Stock, J. H., & Watson, M. W. (2003). Forecasting output and inflation: The role of asset prices. Journal of Economic Literature, 41(3), 788–829. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.41.3.788.
    28. Tarkom, A., & Ujah, N. U. (2023). Inflation, interest rate, and firm efficiency: The impact of policy uncertainty. Journal of International Money and Finance, 131, 102799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jimonfin.2022.102799
    29. Wouters, R. (2002). An estimated stochastic dynamic general equilibrium model of the euro area.
    30. Yoon, J.-W., Kim, J., & Lee, J. (2014). Impact of demographic changes on inflation and the macroeconomy. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498396783.001.
  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Yusuf, M., Rahmadana, M. F., & Rizki, O. (2026). Exploring The Drivers of Inflation in Indonesia: A Quantitative ‎Analysis. International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 13(2), 28-36. https://doi.org/10.14419/mkz47133