<![CDATA[Road infrastructure is widely recognized as a key driver of regional economic growth; however, its short-term impact in lagging regions remains unclear. This study examines the role of road infrastructure in shaping economic growth in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. An inductive quantitative approach is used through a pooled data regression model that combines time-series data for 4 years (2020–2023) and cross-sectional data from 14 regencies/cities in West Kalimantan Province. Economic growth is measured by real GRDP growth, while road infrastructure is proxied by total road length. Additional variables include fiscal transfers (DAK Fisik), investment, population, and education. The results show that road infrastructure has a positive but statistically insignificant short-term effect. In contrast, DAK Fisik and education exhibit positive and significant effects, with education emerging as the strongest determinant. Investment and population remain insignificant. The findings suggest that infrastructure expansion alone is insufficient to drive short-term growth; fiscal capacity and human capital play more immediate roles. The study demonstrates that growth in lagging regions is conditional rather than automatic. JEL: O18, O47, R11.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
