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on Cultural Economics |
| By: | Marado, Catarina (University of Algarve); Correia, Luis (University of Coimbra) |
| Abstract: | Alongside the substantial transformation of the concept of architectural heritage, the models, strategies and tools that promote their protection, have also been subject to significant changes over time. Simultaneously, and also in an inevitable way, the settings has been taking a progressive and predominant role in the protection and the criteria that mediate the interventions in the architectural heritage. The most recent heritage charters and recommendations refer to the importance of settings - extended to the concept of “place” - to the meaning of cultural heritage and therefore the need to develop tools to promote their conservation and management. This article presents a research proposal that aims to reflect on this theme: the setting of architectural heritage. The ultimate goal of this project is to provide a critical platform, to contribute actively to the need for reflection on the Special Protection Zones of classified heritage, particularly on its boundaries. This purpose will be based on developing three main research lines: the interpretation of the territorial relations of the built heritage, the identification and characterization of special protection zones that exist in Portugal and the comparative study of different European experiences in the protection of settings of cultural heritage. |
| Keywords: | Architectural heritage; Setting of architectural heritage; Protection zones; Regional and urban planning |
| JEL: | R10 |
| Date: | 2009–12–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:cieodp:2009_008&r=cul |
| By: | Bertè, Elena (University of Trento) |
| Abstract: | This paper aims at reasoning upon the development of contemporary cultural landscapes: do they exist or do only historic cultural landscapes exist? Is it possible to provide an interpretative reading of cultural landscapes through a comprehension of their structure? Does the planning process have a role in developing cultural landscape dynamics? Many scholars have analyzed cultural landscapes under an historical perspective, nevertheless, an investigation concerning their contemporary potential structure in literature is missing. According to this research, contemporary cultural landscapes are based on an intertwined presence of local-upper local durable dynamics, and differ from historic ones for this stronger relationship. A shared vision estimates the improvement of linear infrastructures decisive for territories development. Linear infrastructures are an exemplificative, limit case of the relationships between local and upper dynamics, as they derive from rationalities of upper levels but they physically cross local territories. Here the challenge with contemporary cultural landscapes: is it possible to support/activate cultural landscape dynamics within linear infrastructure projects? An interpretative model to evaluate the presence of contemporary cultural landscapes will be carried out and applied to three Italian linear infrastructures. The aim is that of starting up the elaboration of a method to support the development of contemporary cultural landscapes in planning processes. |
| Keywords: | contemporary cultural landscapes; linear infrastructures; interpretative model; durable dynamics |
| JEL: | R10 |
| Date: | 2009–12–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:cieodp:2009_005&r=cul |
| By: | Russell S. Sobel (Department of Economics, West Virginia University); Nabamita Dutta (Department of Economics, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse); Sanjukta Roy (Department of Economics, West Virginia University) |
| Abstract: | In the economic development literature, cultural diversity (for example, ethnolinguistic fractionalization) has been shown to have a negative impact on economic outcomes in many underdeveloped countries. We hypothesize that the impact of diversity on economic performance depends on the quality of a country's institutions. Under bad institutions diversity leads to conflict and expropriation, while under good institutions diversity leads to economic progress. A culturally diverse society or interaction among different cultures encourages exchange of, and competition between ideas and different world views. Under good institutions, this amalgamation of ideas and views leads to greater entrepreneurial initiatives. We show that higher levels of cultural diversity increase the rate of entrepreneurship in the presence of good institutions using evidence from the United States. |
| Keywords: | Cultural Diversity; Entrepreneurship |
| JEL: | L26 P12 |
| Date: | 2010 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wvu:wpaper:10-12&r=cul |
| By: | Francesco BALDUCCI (Universita' Politecnica delle Marche, Dipartimento di Economia) |
| Abstract: | The paper explores one of the new business models of the music market proposed by Varian (2005): the importance of the promotional effect of web-based diffusion. An indirect form of such investment consists in non-opposition by artists against the circulation of their music files online, or, likewise, their choice of permitting free downloads of their music albums. The profits lost from legal sales - online or on traditional supports - may be off-set by promotional advantages deriving from greater diffusion, with an increase in the artist's market share. The model assumes the existence of a strong network effect and an exchange of information, opinions and contents among web users. The model's results are determined by the initial conditions, i.e. by an artist's market share at an initial instant of time: or in other words, by his/her popularity. It is shown that emerging artists should make maximum investment in promotion, so that the diffusion of their work can be driven by the network effect and they can emerge from anonymity. Instead, for well-established artists, whose market shares are already large, the optimal strategy is to make the least promotional effort, given that the spontaneous diffusion of their work is already high. |
| Keywords: | Artists' strategies, network effect, peer to peer, promotion |
| JEL: | L82 O33 Z11 |
| Date: | 2010–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:anc:wpaper:345&r=cul |
| By: | Chirimbu, Sebastian (Universitatea Spiru Haret, Facultatea de Finante si Banci); Barbu, Mihaela (Universitatea Spiru Haret, Facultatea de Finante si Banci) |
| Abstract: | Discussing about the “culture” of a firm has become a trend among managers, advisors and with meanings somehow special among scientists. This trend might become out-ofdate someday, but not without leaving traces. The organizational culture has become an updated term as well as the concepts of organizational structure, strategy and control. The attribute of “culture” given to an enterprise is a relatively recent phenomenon, at least in Romania where it has been used after the 90`s. The term of organizational culture occurred first in the specialized literature in English of the 1960’s as a synonym for “climate”. The culture of an enterprise reflects the enterprise founders’ vision or mission. The founders set the early culture by presenting an image of what the enterprise must be. They are not compelled by customs or ideologies. |
| Keywords: | culture; organisation; corporate; management; organisational culture |
| JEL: | A11 |
| Date: | 2010–09–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:sphedp:2010_200&r=cul |
| By: | Joseph P. Daniels (Department of Economics, Marquette University); Marc von der Ruhr (St. Norbert College) |
| Abstract: | Megachurches are thriving in religious markets at a time when Americans are asserting their ability as consumers of religious products to engage in religious switching. The apparent success of megachurches, which often provide a low cost and low commitment path by which religious refugees may join the church, seems to challenge Iannocconne’s theory that high commitment churches will thrive while low commitment churches will atrophy. This paper employs a signaling model to illustrate the strategy and organizational forms megachurches employ to indicate a match between what the church produces and the religious refugee wishes to consume in an effort to increase their membership. The model illustrates that megachurches expect little in regard to financial or time commitment of new attendees. However, once the attendees perceive a good fit with the church, the megachurch increases its expectation of commitment. Data from the FACT2000 survey provide evidence in support of the model’s predictions. |
| Keywords: | Megachurches, Quality Signaling |
| JEL: | Z12 |
| Date: | 2010–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mrq:wpaper:1002&r=cul |