Mariana Mazzucato: Government -- investor, risk-taker, innovator | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

In this TED Talk, the speaker discusses the role of the state in innovation and the need to redefine the relationship between government and the private sector.

Key Insights

• 🇺🇸 The United States has been the birthplace of innovative companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook, prompting policymakers worldwide to wonder why there are no European equivalents.
• 🌍 The growth models in Silicon Valley and the old economy are different, with Silicon Valley benefiting from market-making mechanisms like dynamic venture capital and successful commercialization policies.
• 🚀 The private sector is often seen as more innovative, creative, and dynamic, while the public sector is viewed as too big and a hindrance to innovation.
• 📰 Media often portrays the state as a monster, necessary for fixing market failures but not capable of fostering out-of-the-box thinking and revolutionary ideas.
• 📱 Revolutionary technologies, like those in iPhones, are often government-funded, challenging the narrative that the private sector is solely responsible for revolutionary innovation.
• 💊 In the pharmaceutical industry, government-funded labs contribute to a significant portion of revolutionary new drugs, while the private sector focuses more on marketing and incremental improvements.
• 💡 The state has played a crucial role in shaping and creating markets by funding basic and applied research, serving as a venture capitalist, and envisioning strategic investments.
• 💰 The risk-reward relationship between the state and the private sector needs reevaluation, as the state takes on significant risks with limited returns through tax revenue and job creation. Note: Due to the length of the provided content, the bullet points may not perfectly align with each paragraph.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Why are innovative companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook predominantly coming out of the United States?

According to the economist in the video, the United States has a different growth model for the new economy, which includes market-making mechanisms such as dynamic venture capital and successful commercialization policies. These mechanisms provide high-risk finance and support to innovative companies, allowing them to thrive and succeed.

Q: Where are the European equivalents to the innovative companies in the United States?

European countries, particularly the European Commission, have been questioning the lack of European companies that can match the impact of companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook. The speaker suggests that the European growth model might be hindered by a large public sector that doesn't adequately support dynamic venture capital and commercialization policies.

Q: What role does the state play in innovation?

The video highlights how the state, contrary to popular belief, plays a crucial role in innovation. It not only fixes market failures and funds basic research but also shapes and creates markets. The state has been a venture capitalist, taking on risks and providing strategic vision for investments in groundbreaking technologies like the Internet, GPS, and touchscreen displays.

Q: How can the state be rewarded for its role in innovation?

Traditional thinking suggests that the state's reward for investing in innovation comes from tax revenue generated by companies benefiting from state-funded technologies. However, the speaker argues that many companies, despite benefiting from state support, legally find ways to minimize their tax payments. The video suggests exploring alternative mechanisms, such as retaining equity in state-funded innovations, to ensure a direct return on investment for the state.

Q: What are the implications of rethinking the role of the state in innovation?

Rethinking the role of the state as a lead player in value creation and recognizing its contributions to innovation has several implications. It could pave the way for more effective public-private partnerships and funding models that go beyond simply mitigating risks. Additionally, redirecting a portion of the profits from state-supported innovations towards an innovation fund or equity retention could fuel further innovation, particularly in areas like green technology, while also creating a more inclusive and equitable economy.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker discusses the dominance of innovative companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook coming out of the United States and questions why European countries have not produced similar companies.

• She highlights the role of market-making mechanisms and successful commercialization policies in Silicon Valley's growth model, which have been lacking in Europe.

• The speaker argues that the state has played a significant role in funding and shaping revolutionary technologies, but there is a need to recognize and reward the state's risks and contributions beyond taxation.