ECONOMIC SECTOR GROWTH IN ENCOURAGING EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN PANGKAJENE ISLANDS REGENCY

Abstract This study aims to analyze the growth of the economic sector, the level of development equity across regions, the factors influencing development equity, and the impact of social, economic, and infrastructure variables on development equity in Pangkajene Islands Regency from 2021 to 2025. The study employs a quantitative descriptive approach using secondary data analysis sourced from the Central Statistics Agency, the Pangkajene Islands Regency Government, and various scientific publications. The research findings indicate that real sector growth in Pangkajene Islands Regency increased significantly during the study period. The Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) rose from Rp 27.57 trillion in 2021 to Rp 37.97 trillion in 2025. The agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, trade, and construction sectors are the main drivers of the regional economy. The poverty rate decreased from 14.28 percent in 2021 to 11.60 percent in 2025. The Williamson Index, used to measure development equity, shows a decline from 0.46 to 0.31, indicating that regional inequality is beginning to decrease. Variables such as education, poverty, sectoral GRDP, and transportation access influence development equity; however, transportation infrastructure and sectoral GRDP are the most dominant factors. The study concluded that growth in the real sector can promote equitable economic development and poverty alleviation in Pangkajene Islands Regency. The local government needs to strengthen infrastructure development in the archipelago, promote downstream processing in key sectors, support the development of MSMEs, and improve the quality of human resources so that economic development becomes more inclusive and sustainable.