Martin Wolf interviews Mariana Mazzucato: Can the state innovate?

In this podcast, Mariana Mazzucato shares her insights on how government can drive innovation. She explores the historical impact of agencies like DARPA in advancing technology, challenging the notion of the "heroic entrepreneur" and highlighting the concept of "entrepreneurial states." Mazzucato champions "mission-oriented" policies, using the Apollo moon landing as a blueprint for addressing modern issues such as climate change and global health. She argues that a strong state is essential for effective collaboration with the private sector and emphasizes the need to move beyond simply correcting market failures to actively shaping markets and pursuing clear, ambitious goals.