Odd Lots Mariana Mazzucato Thinks We Need More Moonshots
102 snips
May 8, 2026 
Mariana Mazzucato, director at UCL’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose and author on the entrepreneurial state. She explores the mission economy and how states build capacity. Short takes on outsourcing vs. in‑house skills, AI’s public roots and how to govern it, and the history and value of moonshot-style public investments.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Mission Policy Means Pick Problems Not Firms
- Mission-oriented policy focuses on solving big problems rather than picking specific sectors or firms.
- Mariana Mazzucato uses the moon mission analogy to show outcomes-oriented public purpose drives cross-sector innovation, not narrow subsidies.
Invest In Government Capabilities Not Just Budgets
- Build three things inside government: fiscal capacity, stable administrative routines, and dynamic capabilities.
- Mazzucato warns capabilities include agility, interministerial coordination and the ability to learn by doing during crises like COVID.
Consultants Grew Where Governments Withdrew
- Consultancies expanded when governments shrank and outsourced core tasks, creating conflicts and dependence.
- Mazzucato argues the problem is governments inviting consultants to do core functions like test-and-trace during COVID.
