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on Cultural Economics |
| By: | Giovanni Signorello (University of Catania); Enrico Bertacchini (University of Torino); Walter Santagata (University of Torino) |
| Abstract: | The aim of this paper is to analyse patterns of private individual giving to Cultural Heritage institutions in Italy. Based on the emerging economic literature on pro-social behavior, we carried out a Contingent Valuation survey to assess individuals’ willingness to donate to museums and heritage organizations according to different conditions and set of incentives. Our findings reveal that intrinsic motivations and accountability of the recipient institutions may be more effective drivers for eliciting charitable giving than the usually proposed fiscal incentives. The results provide avenues for future empirical research and policy suggestions for fund raising cultural institutions. |
| Keywords: | Charitable Giving, Cultural Heritage, Contingent Valuation, Pro-social Behavior |
| JEL: | D11 D12 H4 Z1 |
| Date: | 2010–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2010.11&r=cul |
| By: | Andreas Freytag (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena); Sebastian von Engelhardt (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena) |
| Abstract: | The paper analyzes the impact of institutional and cultural factors on a remarkable economic activity: the production of so-called open source software (OSS). OSS is marked by free access to the software and its source code. Copyright-based OSS licenses permit users to use, change, improve and redistribute the software, which is designed and developed in a public, collaborative manner. OSS seems to be an example of a 'private provision of a public good'. While the supply-side microeconomics of OSS (individual characteristics of OSS developers, role of firms etc.) are well explored, it is not known which institutional and cultural factors explain different OSS activities across countries. For this reason, we perform a cross-country study analyzing how the number of OSS developers per inhabitants and the level of OSS activity of a country depend on institutional and cultural factors. Our findings are that a culture characterized by individualism/self-determination, abundance of social capital interpreted as interpersonal trust, an optimistic view of scientific progress, a low degree of regulation as well as good protection of intellectual property rights is favoring OSS activities. Our study thus contributes to the understanding of the role of cultural and nstitutional factors in general as well as in particular with respect to OSS. Additionally, it improves the understanding of the supply-side of OSS. |
| Keywords: | Open Source, Culture, Institutions, Social Capital, Trust, Regulation, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Individualism, Intellectual Property Rights |
| JEL: | B52 L17 L86 O34 Z13 Z19 |
| Date: | 2010–02–24 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2010-010&r=cul |
| By: | Goetzmann, W.; Renneboog, L.D.R.; Spaenjers, C. (Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the impact of equity markets and top incomes on art prices. Using a newly constructed art market index, we demonstrate that equity market returns have had a significant impact on the price level in the art market over the last two centuries. We also find empirical evidence that an increase in income inequality may lead to higher prices for art, in line with the results of a numerical simulation analysis. Finally, the results of Johansen cointegration tests strongly suggest the existence of a long-run relation between top incomes and art prices. |
| Keywords: | Art market;Equities;Income inequality;Cointegration;Comovement. |
| JEL: | D31 D44 G1 Z11 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:kubcen:201008&r=cul |
| By: | Andreas Freytag (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena); Christoph Vietze (School of Economics and Business Administration, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena) |
| Abstract: | We analyze whether biodiversity is enhancing the development process in developing countries (DCs) via increasing tourism receipts in a trade based endogenous growth framework. The underlying assumption is that a rich biodiversity - only if used sustainably - provides a comparative advantage in tourism for most DCs. The main empirical findings are that biodiversity while being significantly and positively correlated with inbound tourism receipts in DCs, has no significant relation with tourist arrivals. This can be interpreted as an indicator that mass tourism is not influenced by biodiversity whereas individual tourism (as the superior good) is. Consequently, we are able to show empirical a positive influence of sustainable tourism on economic growth. Therefore, it may be a promising development strategy to invest in biodiversity and attract high budget tourists. |
| Keywords: | tourism, economic growth, sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, cross country analysis |
| JEL: | F18 Q26 |
| Date: | 2010–02–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2010-008&r=cul |