Governments are increasingly reliant on consulting firms. Critics says it's often to their detriment

Economics professor Mariana Mazzucato is alarmed at how much governments rely on consulting firms. (Getty Images: Bloomberg)

In April 2022, the global consulting firm McKinsey drew international attention for a conflict of interest. 

According to a 2022 interim report by the US Congress' Committee on Oversight and Reform, McKinsey failed to disclose it worked for Purdue to the US government's medicine regulatory body, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).