Policy Diffusion of Indonesian Bureaucratic Simplification Policies in the Era of Regional Autonomy (Case Study of Yogyakarta Special Region)

The goal of this study is to understand the effects of the bureaucratic simplification policy transfer from central to regional government, particularly in relation to Indonesia’s decision to eliminate Echelon 3 and Echelon 4. In order to enhance public services and accelerate community access to public services, Echelons 3 and 4 were eliminated to shorten the bureaucratic process. This research takes the case of DIY as one of the regions with the best Bureaucratic Reform Index in Indonesia. Interviews were held with representatives from the following organizations in the Special Region of Yogyakarta: Regional Planning and Development Agency, Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection and Population Control Service, Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services, Financial and Asset Management Agency, and Regional Personnel Agency. The results of this research indicate that the transfer of bureaucratic simplification policies was not carried out completely (incomplete transfer) from the central government to regional governments. The transition of positions was not prepared carefully, resulting in a lot of confusion regarding work mechanisms. Unequal awareness of the necessity of this policy among civil servants resulting in the minimum, or worse, no improvement in public services.