Mariana Mazzucato, of University College London, calls for a progressive form of greater democratisation of the economy. She criticises that politicians too often speak in abstract terms such as ‘the market,’ distancing it from the real power dynamics and people’s everyday experiences. She argues that a new economic paradigm is needed, one that redefines the foundations of climate and industrial policy. One key point is that investment is still insufficient, even though a greener economy can only emerge with massive public and private funding. Particularly in highly financialised sectors such as energy and life sciences, companies often benefit from state investment without contributing sufficiently to societal transformation. Progressive leadership must proactively address these issues and more actively shape economic policy again. -nk

Katrin Rulle

Manon Dufour says people are sceptical about change not because they fear change itself, but because they worry about losing control over their jobs, environments and communities. To foster acceptance, leaders need to show that the transition is actually happening and people can experience its benefits in concrete and immediate terms. Too often, the transition is portrayed as a distant trade off of objectives, but in reality it is a lot more immediate and is happening everywhere. For it to become a viable political project, it requires collaboration, honesty and investment in people, amongst other things. A broad investment plan bringing together public and private funds that makes the transition financially viable is also crucial. -fw

Katrin Rulle