Welcome, I’m an economist with an interest in the relationship between innovation and growth, and economic policies that can ensure that economic growth is not only 'smart' but also inclusive and sustainable. My work on finance and innovation argues that financial markets must be reformed to support productive investments and innovation: creative destruction not destructive creation.
A key aspect of my recent work has been theorising the role of the State in the dynamics of economic growth--and using these insights to influence industrial strategy and growth policy in the UK and abroad. In the Entrepreneurial State I argue that key periods of innovation led growth have witnessed the State as market 'creator' and market 'shaper' not simply market 'fixer'.
I am currently R.M. Phillips Professor in Science and Technology Policy (SPRU department) at the University of Sussex (UK) and Visiting Professor in the Economics of Innovation at the Open University (UK). I was recently Scientific Coordinator of a 3 year European Commission funded FP7 project on Finance, Innovation and Growth (FINNOV, 2009-2012), and I am currently working on two new research projects, one funded by the Ford Foundation, and the other by the Institute for New Economic Thinking.
I am a trustee of the Green Alliance and a member of two expert groups in the European Commission on 'Innovation for Growth' (i4g) and 'Public Sector Innovation'.
Latest Video
- BBC Horizon - Tomorrow's world, 9 April 2013
Recent Articles
19 March 2013 - On the eve of the Budget 2013 presentation, Prof Mazzucato reflects on whether budget measures could be directed to revolutionise the economy with growth that's smart, inclusive, and sustainable.
25 January 2013 - Following the latest disappointing GDP figures, Prof Mazzucato argues that the UK needs to stop blaming the Eurozone and that the government should adopt a visionary growth strategy.
Innovation: let the good risk-takers get their reward
29 November 2012 - Prof. Mazzucato argues that the relationship between risk and reward must change if it is to support, not undermine, long-term economic growth in the west.
Recent Media
- BBC Newsnight, 19 March 2013.
- Dutch RTL News, 28 January 2013.
- Dutch Ministry of Economy Affairs interview, 28 January 2013.
- BBC Newsnight, 14 January 2013.
- Channel 4 News, 7 January 2013.
Mariana Mazzucato's YouTube Channel
Recent Highlights
New version of The Entrepreneurial State out in Summer 2013
More than double the length of the DEMOS report, the new book focuses on the State's role in getting the 'green revolution' off the ground, in China, Korea, Germany, and the US. And it continues to ask difficult questions about risks and rewards: why is it that while every technology which makes the iPhone so 'smart' was funded by the State, Apple pays so little tax?
Dig-IT Workshop: Inclusive Growth, Innovation and Technology - Interdisciplinary Perspectives
The event was organised by Prof Mazzucato and was held on the 1-2 May 2013 at SPRU, University of Sussex.
Click here to visit the website.
Taxpayers Helped Apple, but Apple Won't Help Them
Prof Mazzucato argues that if the United States wants to continue to succeed as a leading technology nation, then it must redress the imbalance in the risk-reward ratio governing the technology sector.
Rethinking the State - video project
On March 26th, Prof Mazzucato launched the Rethinking the State video project. Every Wednesday for 9 weeks a video interview will be featured with a top international economist on the new economic thinking required for a post-crisis recovery.
Mazzucato on growth in the UK, BBC Radio 4
Professor Mazzucato debates Lord Heseltine's statement that some in the UK lack the "national will" to forge an economic recovery.
Parliamentary debate on UK innovation
26 March 2013 - Professor Mazzucato was a speaker at the parliamentary debate entitled "Which contributes more to British innovation – research tax credits or universities?".
Keynote lecture at Second Lundvall Symposium
14 March 2013 - Professor Mazzucato gave the keynote lecture at the 2nd Lundvall Symposium on: Challenges for Europe in a New Age, in Aalborg, Denmark.
Mazzucato on Creative Destruction, BBC Radio 4
Re-igniting Growth
Prof Mazzucato's contribution featured in the report on the relaunch of growth, published by the ESRC.
The great rebalancing: how to fix the broken economy
Prof Mazzucato's contribution featured in the report on rebalancing the economy, published by the Fabian Society.
Paid to Perform? What do we want our business leaders to achieve?
Prof Mazzucato's research has fed directly into this new report on inequality and performance related pay.
4GROWTH event
11 December - Prof Mazzucato was a keynote speaker at the NESTA-CASE 4GROWTH event "What has science ever done for us?".
Predistribution Strategies: Risks and Rewards in Innovation
3 December - Prof Mazzucato presented the paper she wrote in collaboration with Prof Lazonick "The Risk-Reward Nexus in the Innovation-Inequality Relationship" at the Policy Network event.
The Innovation Debate 2012
20 November - Prof Mazzucato was one of the panel members of Innovation Debate 2012, aimed at analysing the concept and role of Innovation. The panel comprised eight influential and respected figures from the worlds of science, technology, medicine, engineering, education, government, industry and the media.
Heseltine Review: British Industrial Competitiveness Seminar - Future Threats and Opportunities
Prof Mazzucato was a keynote speaker for one of the seminars organised by the Rt Hon Lord Heseltine for his Review on UK Competitiveness. Her work on The Entrepreneurial State and her presentation 'The Division of Innovative Labour and the Risk-Reward Nexus' provided key inputs for the final report 'No Stone Unturned', launched on October 31st.