The Morrison government must work with the states to overhaul health, education and tax policies to revive the economy, with the nation's pre-eminent economists warning major reform is needed to boost wages and productivity.

Economists participating in the Scope survey for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age backed a handful of politically dangerous changes they believe could offer substantial economic payoffs for the nation, now and well into the future.

Major reform is needed to boost wages and productivity, economists say. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe, among other leading policy advocates, has urged all governments to re-engage on necessary economic reform, arguing changes will deliver long-term benefits.

A string of proposals delivered by the Productivity Commission to the government two years ago, which advocated reforms such as efforts to slash waiting times in doctor surgeries to road-user charges, have effectively been shelved.