The Economics of Cultural Policy

Cultural policy is changing. Traditionally, cultural policies have been concerned with providing financial support for the arts, for cultural heritage and for institutions such as museums and galleries. In recent years, around the world, interest has grown in the creative industries as a source of innovation and economic dynamism. This book argues that an understanding of the nature of both the economic and the cultural value created by the cultural sector is essential to good policy-making. The book is the first comprehensive account of the application of economic theory and analysis to the broad field of cultural policy. It deals with general principles of policy-making in the cultural arena as seen from an economic point of view, and goes on to examine a range of specific cultural policy areas, including the arts, heritage, the cultural industries, urban development, tourism, education, trade, cultural diversity, economic development, intellectual property and cultural statistics.

List of abbreviations; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. The scope of cultural policy; 3. The policy process; 4. Arts policy; 5. Cultural industries; 6. Cultural heritage; 7. Culture in urban and regional development; 8. Tourism; 9. Culture in the international economy; 10. Cultural diversity; 11. Arts education; 12. Culture in economic development; 13. Intellectual property; 14. Cultural statistics; 15. Conclusions; References; Index.

Cultural policy has become an increasingly important aspect of government policy at local, national and international levels. This book applies a non-technical economic analysis to problems in cultural policy-making, with specific reference to the arts, heritage, the cultural industries, urban development, tourism, education, trade, cultural diversity and intellectual property.

David Throsby is internationally known for his research and writing in the economics of art and culture. He has been a consultant to many government departments and private corporations, and to international agencies including FAO, OECD, UNESCO, the World Bank, UNDP and UNCTAD. He is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Cultural Economics, the International Journal of Cultural Policy, Poetics, and the Pacific Economic Bulletin. He is a co-editor (with Victor Ginsburgh) of the Handbook of the Economics of Art and Culture.