The Geography of the Italian Creative Economy: The Special Role of the Design and Craft Based Industries

Regional Studies, 2013, Vol. 47(2), 135-147

22 Pages Posted: 29 Dec 2008 Last revised: 28 Jan 2013

See all articles by Enrico Bertacchini

Enrico Bertacchini

University of Turin - Department of Economics

Paola Borrione

IRES Piemonte

Date Written: December 28, 2010

Abstract

Through employment and firms data we analyze the evolving structure of the Italian cultural economy and highlight diverging spatial and organizational patterns of cultural production systems in urban and regional areas. Whilst large metropolitan areas remain the most important loci of the creative economy, craft-based sectors and creative sys- tems of design have a tendency to locate in small and non metropolitan centers. Based on the historical formation of manufacturing districts and on the growing role of the cultural production and consumption systems in urban spaces, the Italian creative econ- omy provides an interesting case study to analyze the geographical patterns of cultural and creative industries. We extend previous literature on the geography of the creative and cultural economy by offering trough the italian case new insights as to idiosyncratic conditions in which cities and regions emerge as leading centers of cultural production and creativity.

Keywords: Italy, Cultural Economy, Cultural Industries, Creativity, SIC data

JEL Classification: R12, L8

Suggested Citation

Bertacchini, Enrico and Borrione, Paola, The Geography of the Italian Creative Economy: The Special Role of the Design and Craft Based Industries (December 28, 2010). Regional Studies, 2013, Vol. 47(2), 135-147, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1321222

Enrico Bertacchini (Contact Author)

University of Turin - Department of Economics ( email )

Via Po 53
Torino, Turin - Piedmont 10100
Italy

Paola Borrione

IRES Piemonte ( email )

via Nizza 18
Torino, TO 10125
Italy

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