No. 126 - Cultural activities and economic development: a territorial survey

This paper studies the characteristics of the cultural sector in Italy and its interactions with the economy as a whole. We analyze the demand for and supply of cultural goods and services in Italy at regional level. We carry out a descriptive analysis of households' cultural spending, the pricing of cultural activities, and the ability of regional cultural heritage to attract tourists. We then examine the amount and qualitative features of public financing of culture in the regions, based in part on the opinions of a panel of experts expressly interviewed for this work. Finally we survey the regulatory framework and the main administrative features of the cultural sector. Open questions and possible policy options include the distribution of powers between levels of government, the forms and the extent of private involvement, and the governance of cultural initiatives.