The Big Con | Lecture by Rosie Collington

Ever thought about going into consultancy after your studies? It seems to be a sweet job with a competitive salary and the possibility of doing some good for society. But what if our economies’ reliance on companies such as McKinsey or Deloitte is not all that good and stunting innovation, concealing corporate and political accountability?

Consultants are often seen as objective sources of expertise and capacity. In turn, consultancy has become both a popular external tool for governments and business as well as a lucrative career choice for many of the brightest students. But can it also be dangerous to rely on external companies for their knowledge? Doesn’t it hollow out our governments? And what about conflicts of interest? How objective can a consultant be when consulting both the tobacco industry and governments?

At this lecture and discussion, Rosie Collington talked about her latest book The Big Con (co-authored by Mariana Mazzucato). Collington discusses with prof. dr. Martijn van der Steen about the best way to design public governance and what role consultancy can play in it. Are there ways to improve the sometimes unhealthy relationship between consultancy and governments/businesses?

Rosie Collington is a PhD candidate at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, where she researches the political economy of outsourcing. Together with Mariana Mazzucato she wrote the book The Big Con: How the Consulting Industry Weakens our Businesses, infantilizes our Governments and Warps our Economies (2022).

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About Studium Generale
Studium Generale is part of the Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) and organises scientific, social and cultural programmes throughout the year. The programme consist of lectures, debates, a monthly talk show, a monthly Open Stage Night, movie nights, cultural and scientific events and a wide range of workshops, courses and performances.

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