The US government is now a strategic shareholder in chipmaker Intel, signaling a new era of state intervention in the US But what are the real risks of this interventionist playbook for innovation, free competition, and investor confidence?

Economist Dr. Carmelo Ferlito joins us to dissect this trend. He argues for a clear distinction between a market economy driven by price signals and a state-led one driven by policy, warning that state intervention often leads to inefficiencies, politically protected monopolies, and an erosion of investor confidence.

We discuss:

• The key differences between a market economy and a state-led economy.

• The dangers of governments "picking winners and losers."

• Why politically protected monopolies stifle long-term innovation.

• The risks to investor confidence when the state becomes a major market player.

• The historical cycles of state interventionism and their consequences.

For policymakers, investors, and business leaders, this is a broad exploration into the complex and cyclical battle between market forces and state control.