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on Cultural Economics |
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Issue of 2025–11–24
six papers chosen by Roberto Zanola, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | Shinsuke Ohchi (Hiroshima University) |
| Abstract: | Cormac McCarthy?s Outer Dark (1968) serves as a powerful case study of how a literary work can possess profound cultural value even if it fails to achieve commercial success in its initial stages. The novel is a classic example of market failure; its artistic depth was largely overlooked by the literary marketplace at the time of publication. When writing the novel, McCarthy was living in extreme poverty and relied on minimal financial support to sustain his creative work. As a result, he was able to construct an experimental work with imaginative freedom, unbound by commercial expectations. The novel also explores economic marginality as one of its central themes. Set in the desolate Appalachian region after the Civil War, it portrays characters excluded from capitalist labor structures. These depictions bring to light broader issues such as economic exclusion and social alienation. Although Outer Dark received limited recognition upon its initial release, it eventually secured a place in the literary canon as McCarthy?s reputation grew over time. This trajectory demonstrates that the value of a literary work is not always recognized by the market in real time and underscores the vital role played by non-market mechanisms of evaluation, such as academic institutions and literary criticism. Furthermore, literature like Outer Dark generates positive cultural externalities?contributing to literary heritage, providing creative inspiration to subsequent writers, and enriching public discourse on morality and the human condition. However, such cultural benefits tend to be undervalued by the market, making it difficult to attract sufficient private investment. Thus, public and philanthropic support for literature is also justifiable from an economic standpoint. In short, Outer Dark exemplifies how a work situated on the economic margins can possess enduring cultural significance, highlighting the essential role of non-market forces in sustaining literary excellence. |
| Keywords: | Cormac McCarthyEconomic marginalityLiterary value |
| JEL: | Z00 Z11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:15616895 |
| By: | Yasmine Elkhateeb (J-PAL MENA, Faculty of Economics & Political Science, Cairo University, Egypt); Riccardo Turati (Departament of Applied Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain & IZA, Germany & RFBerlin, Germany); Jérôme Valette (CEPII, IC Migrations, France & IZA, Germany & RFBerlin, Germany) |
| Abstract: | Does immigration challenge the identities, values, and cultural diversity of receiving societies? This paper addresses this question by analyzing the impact of immigration on cultural diversity in Europe between 2004 and 2018. It combines regional cultural diversity indices derived from the European Social Survey with immigration shares from the European Labor Force Survey. The results indicate that immigration increases the salience of birthplace identity along cultural lines, fostering a shift toward nativist identities among the native population. These identity shifts, in turn, trigger a process of cultural homogenization among natives. This effect is stronger in regions receiving culturally distant immigrants. It reflects a process of convergence toward the values of highly skilled liberal natives and divergence from those of low-skilled conservative immigrants. |
| Keywords: | Immigration, Social Identity, Cultural Diversity. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uab:wprdea:wpdea2517 |
| By: | ELI COHEN (Ben Gurion University of the Negev) |
| Abstract: | Wine tourism has become a key driver for both academic research and the wine industry, particularly due to its role in supporting the growth of small wineries and fostering regional development. It attracts new investments, increases employment, and boosts tourism in wine-producing areas. While traditionally centered around winery visits and wine tasting, wine tourism increasingly encompasses broader experiences. Tourists are motivated not only by an interest in wine but also by the desire to engage with local culture, cuisine, and nature.This study explores the features that potential visitors value most in wine tourism experiences. Using the Best-Worst Scaling (BWS) method, we measured the relative importance of different attributes. BWS offers advantages over Likert-type scales by forcing respondents to prioritize features, thus providing clearer insights into visitor preferences.Our results show that beyond wine-related activities, visitors seek experiences such as exploring natural landscapes, purchasing local products, enjoying regional gastronomy, and participating in agrotourism. These findings suggest that wineries and wine regions can benefit from offering more diverse experiences tailored to different tourist segments. From a managerial and marketing perspective, the study provides practical recommendations for enhancing wine tourism strategies and creating more attractive, differentiated offerings. |
| Keywords: | wine tourism, winery, wine region, best-worst |
| JEL: | Z00 Z19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:15516800 |
| By: | Sascha O. Becker (University of Warwick and Monash University); Jeanet Sinding Bentzen (University of Copenhagen); Chun Chee Kok (Université Catholique de Louvain) |
| Abstract: | This paper provides a survey of the literature on gender differences in religiosity and the influence of religion on gender-related economic and social outcomes. Part I examines why women tend to be more religious than men, discussing central explanations. Part II explores how religion impacts various gender-related outcomes, such as gender norms and attitudes, education, labor market participation, fertility, health, legal institutions and reforms, and discrimination. Within each domain, we distinguish between effects driven by individual religiosity (intensity of religious practice or belief) and those driven by their religious denomination. We synthesize findings from numerous studies, highlighting data sources, measures of religion and gender outcomes, and empirical strategies. We focus on studies with credible causal identification—such as natural experiments, instrumental variable approaches, and policy changes—to uncover the impact of religion on outcomes. Correlational studies are also reviewed to provide context. Across studies, the evidence suggests that religious teachings and participation often reinforce traditional gender roles, affecting women’s education, labor force participation, and fertility choices, although there are important nuances and exceptions. We also document instances where secular reforms or religious movements have altered these outcomes. The survey concludes by identifying gaps in the literature and suggesting directions for future research. An important take-away from our review is that rigorous empirical studies are scarce, leaving room for novel causal studies in this field |
| Keywords: | Gender gap; Religion; Religiosity; Gender norms; Education; Fertility; Labor markets; Cultural transmission |
| JEL: | Z12 J16 J24 I21 J13 Z13 |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mos:moswps:2025-18 |
| By: | Sistelo, Marta; Mazeda Gil, Pedro |
| Abstract: | Culture and social capital may be variables of particular interest when explaining economic growth. In recent years, policymakers and economists have increasingly considered their role in economic growth, yet cultural capital and social capital are analyzed separately. Despite being different concepts of capital, in this paper we argue that there is a link between cultural and social capital, and both need to be accounted for when analyzing economic growth and welfare. We develop a theoretical dynamic general-equilibrium model using a mainstream endogenous economic growth set-up (namely with human capital accumulation), incorporating cultural and social capital. We use the model to devise long-run and transitional-dynamics effects from the perspective of both economic growth and welfare, explicitly considering the interplay between cultural and social capital and other forms of capital. A detailed calibration of the model allows for the derivation of quantitative results, with an emphasis on policy implications. |
| Keywords: | Endogenous Growth; Social Capital; Cultural Capital; Human Capital; Welfare |
| JEL: | J24 O4 Z10 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:126644 |
| By: | Pasquale Accardo (University of Bath); Adriano Amati (Università Ca' Foscari Venezia); Giovanni Mastrobuoni (Collegio Carlo Alberto; University of Turin; University of Essex) |
| Abstract: | This study uses a unique longitudinal data set on daily museum visits in Northern Italy to investigate how social networks influence leisure consumption. Based on detailed administrative records of museum cardholders, we use repeated joint visits to build a dynamic network of peers. We identify peer effects that exploit exogenous variation in membership prices generated by age-based discounts. We find robust evidence of peer spillovers in both museum attendance and membership renewal, primarily driven by a preference for shared experiences. These results underscore the role of social interactions in shaping leisure demand and support the view that social networks can amplify individual behavior. More broadly, our findings contribute to the understanding of peer dynamics in settings where consumption is inherently social. |
| Date: | 2025–09–25 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eid:wpaper:58192 |