2024:09 Public Sector Productivity, Who Pays?

The David McWilliams Podcast · Jan 30, 2024 · 28m

This week, we explore the intersection between inflation, public sector pay and productivity, or value for money to the taxpayers who pay the public sector salaries. First, we need a good public service, second workers should be well paid, but third, is there any way of linking public sector wage increases to productivity? If not, then let's be honest with society and say so. We look at Baumol's theory of costs, a bit of old-fashioned insider/outsider dynamics, and the role of multinationals in dragging up public sector wage demands, even though there may be a productivity mismatch. Have our…