CULTURAL ECONOMICS AND POLICIES

The course aims at providing analytical tools to examine and understand the relationship between the economic system main and the various aspects of the cultural sector, with special attention both to public intervention motivations and tools and to the economic features of private cultural markets. Alongside the theoretical analysis, the Italian cultural sector will be examined in a comparative perspective and some case studies will be investigated (Knowledge and understanding).

Students will apply their knowledge critically, also analysing official documents and data and investigating case studies in a comparative perspective (Applying knowledge and understanding).

Analyzing different theoretical approaches and using information from various types of multidisciplinary sources, students will improve their evaluation abilities in the analysis of the public and private components of the cultural sector, of its interactions with the local context and of the related policy implications (Making judgments).

The presentation of theoretical and empirical issues of the interaction between the economic system and the cultural sector and of the policy implications will allow students to acquire adequate knowledge of technical words and terminology; oral and written communication skills will be also stimulated through classroom activities - such as discussions and seminars- and written examinations (Communication skills).

Students learning skills will be stimulated through power point presentations, additional didactic material (official documents, websites, economic newspapers and magazines) and discussions, aimed at verifying the understanding of the topics presented in the lectures. (Learning skills).

Lectures with power point presentation, discussions in class, seminars and analysis of case studies.

Definition and measurement of cultural sector. Economic features of cultural goods and cultural industries. Reasons for public intervention. Types and tools of public intervention. Protection and enhancement of heritage. Museums funding and organization. Performing arts. Art markets. Cultural industries (music, publishing and cinema). The role of cultural activities for local development. Cultural tourism. Institutional and organizational models. Public policies to support the cultural sector. Economic valuation and impact analysis of cultural goods and services.

1. R. Towse, A Textbook of Cultural Economics, Cambridge University Press, 2010 chap. 1 (par. ‘A brief history of cultural economics’ – pp.11-19 – is optional); chap. 2; chap. 3 (par. ‘Economic history of the arts’ – pp.65-74 – is optional); chapters 4, 5, 6, 7. 8, 9, 10 and 19.

2. Symbola, Io sono cultura, Unioncamere, 2018 cap. 2 (I numeri del Sistema Produttivo Culturale e Creativo, pp. 37-105)

3. I. Mazza, I. Rizzo, “Scelte collettive e beni culturali”, in Valentino P.A. - G. Mossetto (eds.), Museo contro Museo, Giunti, Firenze, 2001, pp. 41-54.

4. C. Guccio, G. B. Pollicchino, S. Levi Sacerdotti, I. Rizzo “Il profilo dei turisti con motivazioni culturali: analisi comparata attraverso GPS e questionari sui visitatori del Lago d’Orta”, in V. Tomaselli, R. D’Agata (eds.), Turismo e territorio: analisi empiriche e approcci metodologici, McGraw Hill, Milano, pp. 85-98