Mark Schoen, a U.S. Student Researcher affiliated with the Universitas Negri Malang, is between Jakarta and Malang studying the economic effects of the 2016-2017 Tax Amnesty Program. Together with his research partner Dr. Dwi Wulandri, Mark is examining how the influx of capital back to Indonesia under the tax amnesty program contributed to growth in the years following the repatriation.

This research aims to contribute to the global field of knowledge for repatriation schemes and the Indonesian government’s reflection on the success of the Tax Amnesty Program. The growth information from this research project will be valuable when comparing the 2016-2017 Tax Amnesty Program to the ongoing Voluntary Disclosure Program, a similar repatriation program but with fewer restrictions on the destination of repatriated assets. Additionally, as the Indonesian government debates tax amnesty in the coming years, having a detailed, comprehensive understanding of the 2016-2017 Tax Amnesty Program effects on growth and the Voluntary Disclosure Program will enable better-designed tax programs in the future. Outside of Indonesia, many countries face a similar issue of foreign-held assets by citizens and wish to repatriate some, if not most, of the foreign-held capital. Our research results would provide countries worldwide with a comprehensive blueprint for enacting and running their repatriation schemes.

Mark holds a bachelor of science in economics and a bachelor of arts in art from the University of Iowa, where he graduated with honors.