About Little Economies

Word From the Founder

Besides being a personal passion project, Little Economies was established to remind us all of the little workings of everyday economies, the people who make it happen, those who don't own the luxury of a day off or sick leave. The people behind small businesses of that you may take for granted. When most hear the word "Economics", it's easy to think of high-class bankers, entrepreneurs or bureaucrats, but today, small businesses matter more than ever. In Indonesia alone, the number of individuals who are dependent on SMEs for their livelihoods is estimated to reach more than 50 million, not accounting for those who work informally for such businesses, which could hit the hundreds of millions in total.

Over the years I learned that hearing stories from all members of the society gives you a better understanding on how the world works, and with understanding comes kindness, and I think the world could do with a little more kindness. And so with The Little Economies Project, I envision a platform where society gets to hear the voice of this very important part of the economy and society in general.

And this project is not only about empowering the ones outside, but those who are on the inside as well. By that I mean the very same "small" people who make these stories happen, the aspiring writers, the amateur editor, or the hobbyist videographer who is trying to get their hands-on experience making amazing documentaries and other captivating creative work. For my part, I pledge to always keep the "Little Big Stories" newsletter open to anyone who wants to contribute, scroll to the bottom of the page to see how you can do so.

For what it's worth, I'm also in the same boat, I'm just a regular university student who happens to have extra budget lying around to start this project. Most people would ask me what the endgame is for all of this, and to that I would answer that this is exactly the endgame for me. The endgame for me is to keep on searching for greater and greater opportunities in the face of many uncertainty, trying new projects, meeting new people and getting into ever developing trouble. Because that's what life is to me, an endless pursuit of greatness which would all end in a way that no one will ever know for certain.

With that, I hope you will enjoy this ride as much as I know I will.

David Ivan Danieli,
Jakarta, 6th of June 2026.