Speaking at a panel discussion at the SME Convention on Thursday, SMU Professor of Economics Augustine Tan highlighted that there was a big disconnect between aspiration and achievement in the Government’s push for productivity. He also said that “one arm of the Government does not know what the other is doing” in deciding restructuring measures and tightening of foreign labour quotas, which is the result of the lack of planning and vision. Prof Tan said that if he had his way, he would target sectors capable of greater productivity increases and provide them more leeway. The Government’s method of tightening quotas, he said, will lead to wage and cost effects, and an uncompetitive economy.