Welcome to Valuable Conversations with the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. In this episode, MPA alumni Gwen Casazza and Justin Beirold talk to IIPP’s fearless leader, Mariana Mazzucato. Like many people at IIPP, Gwen and Justin came to the institute in large part because of Mariana and her ideas. Mariana is one of the most influential economists in the world, and as a result, there are hundreds of podcasts, YouTube videos, interviews, and lectures featuring her. We decided that we would get into the weeds about the substance of her research, but we also wanted to learn more about her as a person.
We talked about her childhood in an Italian family in New Jersey and being inspired by her High School history teacher. We discussed the trials and tribulations of the past decade, as she went from being a respected professor to running her own institute and becoming low-key famous (relative to most economists). She tells us about the critical importance of crafting new economic narratives in addition to new policy ideas. And of course, we covered some of the most exciting projects she is working on at the IIPP, including her work with Camden Council, the City of Barcelona, and the (all-women) WHO Council on Economics of Health For All.
Guest Bio:
Mariana Mazzucato is Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London (UCL), where she is Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP). She is winner of international prizes including the 2020 John von Neumann Award, the 2019 All European Academies Madame de Staël Prize for Cultural Values, and the 2018 Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought. She was named as one of the '3 most important thinkers about innovation' by The New Republic, one of the 50 most creative people in business in 2020 by Fast Company, and one of the 25 leaders shaping the future of capitalism by WIRED.
She advises policymakers around the world on innovation-led inclusive and sustainable growth. Her current roles include being Chair of the World Health Organization's Council on the Economics of Health for All and a member of the Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisors, the South African President’s Economic Advisory Council, the OECD Secretary General’s Advisory Group on a New Growth Narrative, the UN High Level Advisory Board for Economic and Social Affairs, Argentina’s Economic and Social Council, Vinnova’s Advisory Panel in Sweden, and Norway’s Research Council. Previously, through her role as Special Advisor for the EC Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation (2017-2019), she authored the high-impact report on Mission-Oriented Research & Innovation in the European Union, turning “missions” into a crucial new instrument in the European Commission’s Horizon innovation programme.
