IN this nation, automobile owners are indeed fortunate people. After all, there are fewer than 8 million cars in a nation of 230 million people. And since many families have more than one car, it is safe to assume that automobile owners are the richest 10 percent among Indonesians. They are, unquestionably, at the top of the prosperity ladder.

At the other end of the spectrum, are about 20 million of the country’s poorest, earning less than US