Follow the Carrot

Redata Rising: Brazil’s Tech Incentive Play

Brazil is rolling out Redata—a new program offering tax breaks to lure big tech data centers, but only if they run on renewable energy. On the surface, it’s about jobs and clean power. Beneath it, it’s a strategic play in global trade and climate politics. Who really benefits—Brazil, big tech, or someone else? And what happens when today’s carrots risk becoming tomorrow’s crutches? In this episode, we follow the incentives shaping Brazil’s bid to become a digital powerhouse—and the tension between smart growth and costly dependence.

Netting the Cost: When Solar Brings Backlash from Power Utilities

Why are solar incentives sparking lawsuits in California while Illinois stays steady? In this episode of Follow the Carrot, we unpack the motives driving the solar power fight—and what it reveals about designing incentives that last.

Innovation’s Incentive Problem: Why Bold Ideas Need Better Backing

Big ideas don’t win on brilliance alone—they win when the incentives line up. From ARPA-I’s public projects to Google’s $9B data bet, we unpack how to fund breakthroughs that actually last.

Innovation Incentives: Policies That Unlock (or Block) Progress

Everyone wants innovation—until the incentives get in the way. In this episode of Follow the Carrot, we explore how tax codes, procurement rules, and political timelines quietly shape what gets built—and what doesn’t. From pandemic-era vaccine breakthroughs to the bureaucratic slowdowns stifling energy projects, we examine how the public sector often funds innovation, but the rewards—and risks—aren’t always evenly shared. If you’ve ever wondered why good ideas stall while bad ones scale, this episode is for you.

Shutdown Showdown: When Staying Open Becomes the Harder Choice

Why does Congress keep careening toward government shutdowns? In this episode of Follow the Carrot, we unpack the incentive structures behind America’s recurring budget brinkmanship. From missed deadlines to media showdowns, we explore why threatening a shutdown often pays off more than solving the problem. You’ll hear how outdated rules, partisan fundraising, and committee politics reward gridlock—and what realignment might take to make collaboration more than a campaign slogan. Tune in to understand why dysfunction isn’t just tolerated—it’s incentivized.