Mariana Mazzucato demolished one of the most stubborn myths in economics: that governments only fix markets while the private sector innovates. Her research showed the opposite – the boldest innovations, from the internet to clean tech, were built on public investment. Tesla's early lifeline was a $465 million U.S. Department of Energy loan.
Her answer for the climate crisis is mission-driven economics: governments that set ambitious missions, invest with confidence, and shape markets toward public value – then make sure the returns flow back to society. She advises governments and international institutions worldwide on exactly that. If the state stops apologizing for existing, she argues, the transition accelerates.
Achievements
- Author of The Entrepreneurial State and Mission Economy
- Reframed the role of government in innovation and the climate transition
- Advises governments and international institutions on mission-driven policy worldwide
- Founded a leading institute on innovation and public purpose
In Planet vs. Patriarchy: Women are building a better economy.