In late January, Treasurer Jim Chalmers captured the attention of Australia’s wonkerati with an essay in The Monthly that set out his economic stall – the core principles underpinning his policy vision. This manifesto quoted approvingly from the work of the influential globe-trotting economist Mariana Mazzucato.

A few weeks later, the pair had what Mazzucato says was “a nice chat”. It seems, then, that he was luckier than me at prising open a window in her heavily booked schedule.