Vivi Alatas is a Lead Economist for the World Bank’s Poverty program in Indonesia.  She leads a team of seasoned economists who prepare evidence-based analysis and policy reports on issues related to poverty reduction, such as income inequality and labor market informality.  Her team has produced several flagship reports for national and global audiences, including ‘Targeting Poor and Vulnerable Households in Indonesia’, ‘Making Poverty Work in Indonesia’ and most recently ‘Indonesia’s Rising Divide’. These reports are important sources of reference for government, civil society, private sector, and development agency counterparts. After its launch, a presentation of ‘Indonesia’s Rising Divide’ was held at the Presidential Palace, in front of the full cabinet and the country’s provincial governors. Alatas says that everyone has a role to play in the fight against poverty. 

Alatas describes herself as an ‘economist with a true passion for poverty research’.  Starting her education with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Indonesia, Alatas completed her PhD and Master’s degree in Economics at Princeton University, where she was awarded full scholarship. Born and raised in the small town of Solo, Central Java, Alatas credits her Math teachers in high school for inspiring her to pursue higher education in that subject.  Alatas joined the Bank in 2000 and is now a sought after speaker on the national and international lecture circuit.