Over at Policy Progress, David Choat reminds us to be careful looking at productivity stats. This is true.
I have heard arguments against looking at productivity (here and here) and for looking at productivity (here and here). If you click the links you will see that each time it is actually the same person talking – me.
Now does this make me viciously inconsistent? Hopefully not. Ultimately, the idea of productivity is essential – and yet the statistics of it are not so useful.
Although getting productivity is good, as it means we can have more stuff for the same inputs, it doesn’t make sense as a target for policy. When it comes to policies trying to actually sit down and quantify the ACTUAL costs and benefits of policies is the way to go, using productivity stats is a good way to cloud and ignore some costs.
Another post on technology should really come up on this blog. And one day it will – but not today.
Update: On that note it looks like we are making a waste of times comm… opps sorry, productivity commission in New Zealand now. It would make more sense to just spend the funds on improving the quality of actual cost benefit analysis – but then we wouldn’t be able to make up a fancy new commission with new letterheads would we! The Act party needs to show its relevance by increasing spending after all doesn’t it …
2 comments
11 pings
Eric Crampton says:
March 19, 2010 at 8:54 am (UTC 12 )
And the second it recommends anything that anybody could possibly object to, cue Power, English, Key or Dunne to say that it’ll never happen while he’s in office.
Matt Nolan says:
March 19, 2010 at 8:57 am (UTC 12 )
@Eric Crampton
Best result would be to dump the families commission …
Shatter The Blocks To Your Business Progress, Productivity & Profit. | Insider Forex Secrets Guide says:
March 18, 2010 at 1:16 pm (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems [...]
Improve Your Productivity and Make More Money Now | Wolfs Article DEN says:
March 18, 2010 at 1:51 pm (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems [...]
CREDIGY - Problems in the U.S. says:
March 18, 2010 at 2:59 pm (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems [...]
Problems of Knowledge and Freedom (Bertrand Russell memorial lectures) | Ebook Online Free says:
March 18, 2010 at 5:18 pm (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems [...]
Tesa-A Vacation Attitude | Psychic Medium || Tesa Johnston says:
March 19, 2010 at 6:35 am (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems [...]
voyager 510 bluetooth headset | THE BLUETOOTH EXPERIENCE says:
March 19, 2010 at 2:16 pm (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems [...]
Local Xocai Rep Increases Lead Flow By 300% says:
March 20, 2010 at 9:39 pm (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems [...]
Work At Home – Plan And Organize It To Your Liking. says:
March 20, 2010 at 11:25 pm (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems [...]
Important Facts About Excellent Mining Equipment says:
March 22, 2010 at 12:49 am (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems [...]
Photo Printer Drivers – Avoid Risks ! | Best Photo Printer says:
March 31, 2010 at 7:43 am (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems [...]
CREDIGY - Early Warning Signs of Debt Problems says:
April 3, 2010 at 2:51 am (UTC 12 )
[...] TVHE » Productivity problems Tags: Debt, Early, problems, signs, warning [...]