The Common Good Economy

A New Compass

Brought to you by Penguin.

The crises that face us in the twenty-first century are global and interconnected: amongst many others, climate change exacerbates the water crisis, which in turn impacts health. Yet, as Mariana Mazzucato argues, we have failed to treat these as collective goals with shared agendas. This, she argues, is not by coincidence, but by design.

In this ambitious and urgent new book, Mazzucato presents a systematic and scalable vision of successful government that creates value, addresses inequalities, and serves collective ends. Emphasizing a need to shift from reactively putting bandages on market failures to proactively shaping economies that actually work, she proposes a new economic theory of the common good. The book outlines five pillars of progressive government and demonstrates how they can help us tackle the most pressing challenges of our time.

In critiquing the patchy version of the ‘public good’ and the ‘commons’ in economic theory—used by governments, civil society organizations and businesses worldwide, Mazzucato aims to radically change how ‘good’ is achieved. Building on her ‘mission-oriented’ approach and her influential rethinking of the role and nature of the ‘entrepreneurial state’, The Common Good Economy is a timely analysis and a manifesto for ensuring the welfare of both people and the planet.

© Mariana Mazzucato 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

About Mariana Mazzucato

Mariana Mazzucato is Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London, where she is Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose. She is winner of international prizes including the Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana in 2021, Italy's highest civilian honour, the 2020 John von Neumann Award, the 2019 All European Academies Madame de Staël Prize for Cultural Values, and 2018 Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought. She is a member of the UK Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) and the Italian Academy of Sciences Lincei. In 2025, she was appointed Commander of the British Empire for services to economics in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Pope Francis appointed her to the Pontifical Academy for Life for bringing ‘more humanity’ to the world.


Her award-winning books include: The Entrepreneurial State (2013), The Value of Everything (2018), Mission Economy (2021), and The Big Con (2023). She advises policymakers around the world on innovation-led inclusive and sustainable growth. Her policy roles include: Chair of the World Health Organization's Council on the Economics of Health for All, Co-Chair of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, member of the South African President’s Economic Advisor y Council, Co-Chair of the Group of Experts to the Brazilian 2024 G20 Task Force for the Global Mobilization against Climate Change, and Special Representative of President Ramaphosa to the 2025 G20 Taskforce 1 on Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialization, Employment, and Reduced Inequality.
Details
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • ISBN: 9781837311705
  • Price: £14.00
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