JK's Lecture at Harvard Highlights National Spending and Debt Burden

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Former Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, emphasized the need for the government to exercise caution in managing national expenditure and setting budget priorities.

Kalla made the statement during a lecture titled Leadership Amidst Uncertainty: Lessons from Experience at the Belfer Case Study Room, CGIS South, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, on Thursday (22/10/2026) local time.

The lecture was attended by students from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston University, and several other universities in the New England area of the United States.

He underscored that government spending should align with urgent needs and the country’s financial capabilities.

"National expenditure should be structured based on priority scales and financial capacity," Kalla stated, as quoted in a press release on Friday (23/10/2026).

"We should not let spending be too large while the ability to pay is limited," he added.

Kalla warned that uncontrolled spending and excessive reliance on debt could strain the country’s finances.

He noted that debt, if not carefully managed, could become a burden for future generations.

"Today’s debt ultimately becomes the obligation of future generations," Kalla stressed.

He also highlighted the importance of mastering knowledge, technology, and innovation to face various challenges.

“Money alone is not enough. We also need spirit, courage, knowledge, and innovation. Technology must be mastered, and human capabilities must continually be developed,” Kalla said.

The lecture at Harvard is part of Kalla's academic agenda in the United States.

Previously, he participated in the Vice President Kalla Lecture Series at Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, Illinois.

After his agenda at Harvard, Kalla is scheduled to continue his academic activities at the MacMillan Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, on Friday (23/10/2026).

During this event, he will discuss conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and humanitarian and disaster management in Indonesia’s diverse context.