Picking winners: Industry policy with Craig Lawrence

Economics Explained host Gene Tunny speaks with Craig Lawrence, Managing Director of Lytton Advisory, regarding the pros and cons of picking winners and interventionist industry policy more broadly.Craig Lawrence has over 30 years of experience across government and private sector projects, particularly in infrastructure, transport, and tourism. Prior to establishing Lytton Advisory, Craig was Director-Infrastructure Policy at the Queensland Government Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning where he led a team of policy and regulatory analysts and economists looking at infrastructure prioritisation and resource region supply chain optimisation. He was previously Director-Economic Policy within the Department.Reports mentioned in the conversation include:QCA Industry Assistance Review Report (see p. 25 for the footloose Berri Fruit Juice example) Productivity Commission Automotive Industry Modelling Report (see p. 80 for the PC’s estimate of the high cost per job saved Gene mentioned in the conversation)