Bersubsidi

Bersubsidi is an Indonesian term meaning "receiving subsidies" or "subsidized." It is used to describe goods, services, or programs that are priced below their market level due to government support. The label is commonly applied in policy discussions and public discourse to distinguish subsidized items from those sold at market rates. In practice, bersubsidi products are typically allocated through quotas or eligibility criteria designed to target lower-income households, small businesses, or essential sectors.

Common examples include fuel and energy products such as subsidized gasoline (BBM bersubsidi) and subsidized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG 3 kg bersubsidi), as well as subsidized electricity tariffs for households and businesses. Agriculture and food sectors may carry bersubsidi components, such as subsidized fertilizers and price-controlled staples. Public transport and social services can also be described as bersubsidi when government support keeps prices affordable.

Policy rationale centers on improving affordability, stabilizing prices, and promoting social equity. However, bersubsidi arrangements face challenges including fiscal cost, leakage to non-target groups, and distortions in consumption or investment. To enhance effectiveness, governments may couple bersubsidi with better targeting, diversifying away from blanket subsidies, and using digital eligibility checks or direct cash transfers to the intended beneficiaries.

Note: The term is widely used in Indonesian-language media and policy documents but is not a single formal policy name; its exact meaning can vary by context and country.