Expert warns DTSEN decile mapping is not an absolute economic label

Susilo Nur Aji Cokro Darsono, a development economics expert from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), has advised that the decile welfare mapping within the National Single Social and Economic Data (DTSEN) should not be treated as an absolute label for an individual's or family's economic status.

While the DTSEN uses the Proxy Means Test (PMT) method to categorize the population into ten welfare groups—ranging from decile 1 (lowest) to decile 10 (highest)—Susilo emphasizes that household economic conditions can change rapidly. Factors such as job loss, increased dependents, income fluctuations, or unexpected medical expenses can alter a family's situation shortly after data collection.

He suggests that welfare mapping must remain adaptive and consider three key aspects: regional purchasing power differences via spatial deflators, household economic vulnerability, and the use of measurement instruments aligned with policy goals. He noted that deciles should serve as a screening tool to observe a family's position within society rather than a final verdict.