nep-cul New Economics Papers
on Cultural Economics
Issue of 2015‒02‒05
six papers chosen by
Roberto Zanola
Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro”

  1. Video killed the radio star? Online music videos and digital music sales By Tobias Kretschmer; Christian Peukert
  2. Cultural Diversity: A Matter of Measurement By Nijkamp, Peter; Poot, Jacques
  3. Copyright and creation: a case for promoting inclusive online sharing By Bart Cammaerts; Bingchun Meng; Robin Mansell
  4. Public funding of private media By Corinne Schweizer; Manuel Puppis; Matthias Künzler; Samuel Studer
  5. Democratization or else vulgarization of cultural capital? The role of social networks in theater’s audience behavior By Carmela Milano
  6. The lesbian intimate: capacities for feeling in convergent media contexts By Sarah Cefai

  1. By: Tobias Kretschmer; Christian Peukert
    Abstract: Sampling poses an interesting problem in markets with experience goods. Free samples reveal product quality and help consumers to make informed purchase decisions (promotional effect). However, sampling may also induce consumers to substitute purchases with free consumption (displacement effect). We study this trade-o_ in the market for digital music where consumers can sample the quality of songs by watching free music videos online. Identification comes from a natural experiment in Germany, where virtually all videos that contain music are blocked on a popular video platform due to a legal dispute with representatives of the rights-holders. We show that promotional and displacement effects cancel out in the sales performance of individual songs, whereas online music videos trigger sales of albums.
    Keywords: Sampling; displacement; promotion; natural experiment
    JEL: D83 L82 M37
    Date: 2014–04
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:60276&r=cul
  2. By: Nijkamp, Peter (VU University Amsterdam); Poot, Jacques (University of Waikato)
    Abstract: Cultural diversity – in various forms – has in recent years turned into a prominent and relevant research and policy issue. There is an avalanche of studies across many disciplines that measure and analyse cultural diversity and its impacts. Based on different perspectives and features of the available data, a great variety of diversity indicators have emerged. The present paper aims to highlight some critical issues involved in applying such measures of cultural diversity. A selection of commonly used or recently advocated measures are reviewed. Measures of population diversity can be calculated at different spatial scales and used to analyse spatio-temporal heterogeneity. Additionally, there is a growing interest in measuring spatial dependence, particularly in the form of segregation or clusters. We conclude that there will be in the future considerable scope for adopting multidimensional and cultural distance-weighted measures of diversity. Such measures will be increasingly calculated by means of rich geo-referenced longitudinal micro data. However, adopted measures must be better motivated by behavioural theories. Further research on the determinants and impacts of observed measures of diversity is also likely to be fruitful, particularly in a dynamical setting.
    Keywords: diversity, dissimilarity measurement, ethnicity, culture, segregation, polarization, fractionalization
    JEL: C00 D63 J15 R23 Z13
    Date: 2015–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8782&r=cul
  3. By: Bart Cammaerts; Bingchun Meng; Robin Mansell
    Abstract: The creative industries are innovating to adapt to a changing digital culture and evidence does not support claims about overall patterns of revenue reduction due to individual copyright infringement. The experiences of other countries that have implemented punitive measures against individual online copyright infringers indicate that the approach does not have the impacts claimed by some in the creative industries. A review of the UK Digital Economy Act 2010 is needed based on independent analysis of the social, cultural and political impacts of punitive copyright infringement measures against citizens, and the overall experience of the creative industries.
    JEL: L91 L96
    Date: 2013–09
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:54275&r=cul
  4. By: Corinne Schweizer; Manuel Puppis; Matthias Künzler; Samuel Studer
    Abstract: As advertising revenues shift to non-journalistic platforms, news organizations face financial difficulties. To safeguard pluralism and editorial competition, alternative funding sources should be considered. Policymakers can support private media organizations with mechanisms such as tax relief or even direct subsidies to specific media companies. Such support need not compromise media independence if safeguards such as statutory eligibility criteria are in place. Given convergence, support for private media should also be extended to online media.
    JEL: L91 L96 E6
    Date: 2014–03
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:56427&r=cul
  5. By: Carmela Milano
    Abstract: This paper investigates the participation in social networks of theater's audiences. Our purpose is to observe, describe and understand the role of social networks in the consumption behavior of the theater field. In particular, we put the accent on the concept of cultural capital with its social dimension. We realize an exploratory study that consists in a dozen of qualitative semi-structured interviews with theater’s audiences that participate in social networks. We provide an analytical framework in which we present information about uses, influences and perceptions of changing in social stratification in theaters. We reveal two kinds of perception: a positive one and a negative one that we denominate "democratization effect” and "vulgarization effect”. Our findings can help cultural institutions to have a better understanding of who are the actual theater audiences and how do they act. On an operational level, our study offers information to art's managers interested about the strategic use of Web 2.0 tools.
    Keywords: theater management; art consumer research; social networks; cultural capital
    JEL: Z11 Z13 O33
    Date: 2015–01–28
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sol:wpaper:2013/190812&r=cul
  6. By: Sarah Cefai
    Keywords: lesbian; intimate; media; audience; mode of affection
    JEL: L91 L96
    Date: 2014–05–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:56854&r=cul

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