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Principles for an Inclusive and Sustainable Global Economy: A discussion paper for the G20

Authored by Mariana Mazzucato

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Download discussion paper

Principles for an Inclusive and Sustainable Global Economy: A discussion paper for the G20 | UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP)

Authors: 

  • Mariana Mazzucato | Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value, University College London, and Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose

Abstract:

For the first time, the G20 will meet on African soil - at a moment when demands to reshape the global economy are intensifying. Climate instability, biodiversity loss, the rising cost of capital, and deepening inequality are exposing structural faults at the core of the global system. These intersecting crises are compounded by geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions that fragment supply chains and heighten economic volatility. This moment calls not for incremental reform, but for a bold, coordinated response. It demands a global economy rooted in the South African G20 Presidency’s core themes: solidarity, equality, and sustainability. This discussion paper answers that call. It presents a unified framework to reorient global economic governance around four interdependent principles: shaping the economy, financing for impact, building capable states, and forging collaborations for global equity. Together, these principles lay the foundation for long-term structural transformation - confronting enduring asymmetries in investment, production, and value creation. It calls for new development pathways in the Global South, while renewing the productive base and social contract in the Global North. From Seville to Belém to Johannesburg, the road ahead offers the chance to chart a new course—one driven by collective ambition, institutional renewal, and a multilateralism that is fit for purpose, planet, and people.

Professor Mariana Mazzucato has been appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to advise South Africa’s G20 Presidency. The views and recommendations set out in this discussion paper do not reflect the policy positions of the South African government. They reflect Professor Mazzucato's independent expertise and are intended to inform deliberations throughout South Africa’s Presidency.

Reference:

Mazzucato, M. (2025). Principles for an inclusive and sustainable global economy: A discussion paper for the G20. UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose.

Available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/ucl-institute-innovation-and-public-purpose/principles-inclusive-and-sustainable-global-economy-discussion-paper-g20

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