Economist to be new chair of Productivity Commission
Minister of Finance Grant Robertson has announced that economist Ganesh Nana will be the next chair of the Productivity Commission.
Cabinet has approved the appointment of Nana, who is currently the research director of Wellington economic consultancy BERL. He will take up the new job on January 31.
‘‘Dr Nana’s appointment will bolster the commission’s efforts to deliver on the full breadth of its mandate,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘I want to ensure that the commission, like the Government, looks beyond GDP to find its measures of success, and has the wellbeing of current and future generations of New Zealanders front of mind as it generates new knowledge and advice. I also want them to engage with a wide range of New Zealanders as they undertake their work.’’
The Productivity Commission was the brainchild of the ACT party, and was formed as part of its confidence and supply agreement with John Key’s National Party in 2008. Murray Sherwin has been the chair since it was set up in 2011.
The Productivity Commission
Act 2010 states that ‘‘the principal purpose of the commission is to provide advice to the Government on improving productivity in a way that is directed to supporting the overall wellbeing of New Zealanders, having regard to a wide range of communities of interest and population groups in New Zealand society’’.
Nana is widely considered to be close to the Labour Party. His firm, BERL, costed Labour’s economic policies in the 2017 election, but not for the most recent campaign.
It is the second recent appointment with close ties to the Labour movement, after former New Zealand Council of Trade Unions policy director and economist Bill Rosenberg became a commissioner in September this year.
Nana said he was excited about the new position, but moving outside his comfort zone.
‘‘Contributing to a transformation of the economic model and narrative towards one that values people and prioritises our role as kaitiaki o taonga is my kaupapa. This perspective sees the delivery of wellbeing across several dimensions as critical measures of success of any economic model.
‘‘Stepping into the Productivity Commission after more than 20 years at BERL will be a wrench for me and a move to outside my comfort zone. However, this opportunity was not one I could ignore, as the challenges facing 21st century Aotearoa become ever more intense.
‘‘The role and nature of the work of the commission is set to change in light of these pressing challenges. I am committed to ensure the commission will increasingly contribute to the wider strategic and policy ko¯rero,’’ Nana said.
To avoid conflicts of interest, the commission would not enter any contracts with BERL while Nana was in charge, a Government statement said.