One of the points of discussion following the passage of the $2 trillion stimulus passage has been whether the government should take an equity stake in the corporations that take bailout money. David Calhoun, the CEO of Boeing, balked at the idea of the government taking a stake in the company.
A couple years ago, economist Mariana Mazzucato argued in an interview with EconTalk host Russ Roberts that the federal government has been investing in innovation for quite some time, but hasn’t structured those investments in order to ensure the taxpayer gets a return.
The conversation has come to mind a few times as the government tries to work out how it’s going to structure granting money to corporations that need the help. Figure it’s worth revisiting her argument.
KWAME 
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