Job: mercy Corps mencari Industrial economics expert

Mercy Corps needs Industrial economics expert


Position: Industrial economics expert

Draft scope of work
I) Background
The Government of Indonesia is considering the adoption of new legislation to comply more closely with the International Code on Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (henceforth the ‘International Code’) and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions. This new legislation may include the adoption, monitoring, and enforcement of a regulation by the Ministry of Health stating that all children have the exclusive right to breastfeeding for the first six months of their life. It may also include a Presidential decree which would apply strict fines and penalties for manufacturers of breastmilk substitutes (henceforth ‘BMS’), feeding bottles and teats that are non-compliant with the International Code.
However, these instruments have yet to be passed as law. While numerous factors may explain this situation, there is a perception that a new legislation which may restrict or reduce the use of BMS will have negative effects on the economy of Indonesia, especially in terms of loss of jobs in the production and marketing of BMS.
II) Study purpose and scope of work
The overall purpose of this consultancy is to estimate the contribution of the BMS industry to Indonesia’s economy and employment.
III) Specific research activities and methodology
Faced with the possible adoption of a legislation which may restrict their activities, one would expect the BMS industry to argue that imposing greater control on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes will have negative effects on the economy of Indonesia, especially in terms of loss of jobs.
Such argument generally fails to recognize that if households do not spend 100 $ on acquiring BMS, they will spend 100 $ on acquiring other goods and services which will have a positive impact on employment. This is especially the case that the industry is dominated by foreign-owned companies.
For purpose of providing policy-makers with most relevant information, it is necessary to asses the validity (or lack thereof) of this argument by examining the contribution of the BMS industry to the Indonesian economy and labor markets.
This will be achieved by examining the structure of the BMS industry in Indonesia (number of firms active in the market, number of employees, and estimated total sales) and comparing these numbers with the outcome of alternative patterns of household expenditures. Normally, such estimates can be calculated using input-output tables.

Key tasks include:
Ø Describe the BMS industry in Indonesia (number of firms and plants, ownership, employment, sales, imports of inputs, etc.);Ø Using existing national statistics, describe patterns of household expenditures in Indonesia; Ø Using existing national statistics and input-output tables of the Indonesian economy, simulate the impact on employment and economic activity of a reduction in BMS sales in the country.
Expected level of effort: Ø 30 days
IV) Deliverables
Under the terms of this proposal, there will be 2 deliverables:
Deliverable 1: Draft report by November 15;
Deliverable 2: Final report by December 15.=================