In 1962, then US president John F Kennedy dedicated his nation to reaching the Moon earlier than the last decade was up. It was an enormous enterprise, however one which in the end succeeded, and likewise produced applied sciences corresponding to digicam telephones and child components alongside the way in which. However have governments right this moment misplaced the arrogance and knowhow wanted to undertake such formidable challenges? That’s the rivalry of right this moment’s visitor, Mariana Mazzucato, professor within the economics of innovation and public worth at College School London. She believes states have to rediscover mission-purpose and take the lead in fixing issues corresponding to local weather change, pandemics or water shortage.
Martin Wolf is chief economics commentator on the Monetary Occasions. You’ll find his column right here
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