A short time ago, a press release from the Productivity Commission dropped into my in-box, announcing the release this morning of the Commission’s draft report on better urban planning. The Government asked the Commission to take a first principles, or “blue skies” approach to the issue.
I’ve been increasingly skeptical of the work of the Productivity Commission. They often provide some interesting background analysis and research, and yet they increasingly seem to be well described by the old line “when your only tool is a hammer, it is tempting to see every problem as a nail”. The Productivity Commission is mostly made-up of, and run by, (able) long-term public servants. Public servants design and help implement the instrument of state – government attempts to remedy problems, typically with government-based tools. There is a self-selection bias problem – people who are inclined believe in the importance/viability of government solutions are more…
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Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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