Professor Mazzucato will deliver the lecture on ‘Rethinking growth: making economies work for the common good’ on Tuesday 26 November.

In the context of rising global inequality, climate and water crises, and health pandemics, the lecture will ask how can governments achieve growth that is more inclusive and sustainable? Other questions will include how can we get out of the trap of fixing market failures, and start to proactively shape and co-create an economy that works for people and planet?

Economics of the common good

The talk will build on Professor Mazzucato’s recent work, which attempts to build a new perspective on the common good where the how is as important as the what. Demonstrating that the “economics of the common good” offers a useful framework for setting common goals and common agendas, knowledge sharing, and collective distribution of rewards.

Mariana Mazzucato (PhD) is famed for her work that challenges orthodox thinking about the role of the state and the private sector in driving innovation; how economic value is created, measured and shared; and how market-shaping policy can be designed in a ‘mission oriented way’ to solve the grand challenges facing humanity.

Her well-known books include Mission Economy: A Moonshot Guide to Changing Capitalism (2021), and The Big Con: How the Consulting Industry Weakens our Businesses, Infantilizes our Governments and Warps our Economies (2023). Her journal articles include Advancing the economics of health for all, Mazzucato, M. and Ghebreyesus T. (2024) and Governing the economics of the common good: from correcting market failures to shaping collective goals, Mazzucato, M. (2023).

She advises policymakers around the world on innovation-led inclusive and sustainable growth.

Professor Peter Taylor, Acting Director, Institute of Development Studies (IDS), said:

“We are thrilled to be welcoming the innovative and influential economist, Professor Mariana Mazzucato to deliver this year’s IDS Annual Lecture. When development for many politicians still just means economic growth, we need to challenge the premise of growth, who it benefits and how it can be achieved in our era of the interconnected and global health and climate crises.”

The IDS Annual Lecture convenes the most exciting thinkers on international development, contributing to the most pressing global challenges of our time, from artists to politicians. Past speakers have included leading international lawyer and feminist Karuna Nundy, Pakistan’s first female architect Yasmeen Lari, the President of Costa Rica, and renowned authority on AIDS and Ebola Sir Peter Piot.

Register to attend the IDS Annual Lecture 2024 in person or online on Tuesday 26 November at 4pm (UK time) via the event page.