Economists are torn on Jim Chalmers’ Productivity Commission overhaul
Australia's productivity growth is lagging. Should the Productivity Commission be focused on anything other than fixing it?
The stakes are high for incoming Productivity Commission chair Dani Wood, who has just been handed an extensive to-do list by federal treasurer Jim Chalmers.
The government’s first ever statement of expectations, released on Thursday evening, aims to “modernise” and “sharpen” the focus of the Commission. It wants the PC to maintain its primary focus on productivity, but also “more broadly” consider national prosperity and economic progress.
And there’s a list of particular topics to focus on, including technological and digital transformation, climate change and the energy transition, population ageing, rising demand for care and support services and global shifts.
Wood said, in a comment provided to the media through Chalmers’ office, that the statement “outlines a vision” to ensure the PC remains relevant and impactful.
