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on Cultural Economics |
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Issue of 2025–12–01
four papers chosen by Roberto Zanola, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | Arenal, Alberto; Aguado, Juan Miguel; Armuña, Cristina; Ramos, Sergio; Feijóo, Claudio |
| Abstract: | Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a pivotal role throughout every stage of the music industry value chain. In fact, AI has been integral to the value proposition of music streaming platforms since their inception. This research article investigates how AI—and in particular, Generative AI (GenAI)—affects the creation and consumption stages, the two most socially significant components of the music streaming value chain. It explores users' perceptions of the impact of AI/GenAI on their music-listening experience and examines how artists and performers view the role and influence of AI on their position and opportunities within the streaming model. Drawing on the findings from two separate focus groups with users and artists / performers from different geographies and professional development, this study complements industry debates—often dominated by technology companies and record and publishing firms—by providing valuable insights into the perceptions at both ends of the music industry value chain regarding the impact of these technologies on music creation, dissemination, and consumption. As key findings, while users exhibited a nuanced response to AI-generated music, both existing literature and insights from artists and performers suggest that AI may further amplify the endemic dysfunctions of music streaming platforms, arising governance issues and ethical concerns, particularly regarding to transparency. In addition, both groups highlighted a significant paradox: while AI has the potential to democratise music creation by lowering barriers to entry, it also poses a threat to the existing ecosystem of music professionals, which have relevant implications in terms of the role of culture in societies, policy and practice. |
| Keywords: | Artificial Intelligence, Generative Artificial Intelligence, digital music value chain, music performers, streaming platforms, consumption of music |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:itse25:331251 |
| By: | Elkhateeb, Yasmine (J-PAL MENA); Turati, Riccardo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona); Valette, Jérôme (CEPII, Paris) |
| 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: | cultural diversity, social identity, immigration |
| JEL: | F22 D03 D72 Z10 |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18261 |
| By: | Mayowa Adegoriola |
| Abstract: | The sustainable future of our cultural heritage depends critically on the protection and upkeep of heritage buildings (HB). Conventional maintenance methods frequently depend on human inspection and routine maintenance, which can be expensive, time-consuming, and inefficient in using resources. Nevertheless, digitalization presents chances to overcome these obstacles by delivering data-driven decision-making and real-time monitoring. Current research has demonstrated that although digitalizing maintenance is essential, there is comparatively little use of digital technologies. It is imperative to comprehend the constraints impeding the digitalization of HB maintenance. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the uptake of maintenance digitalization to improve energy efficiency in New Zealand's HBs. Through a literature review, the study identified the various digital technologies in maintenance and their applicability to HBs. The review result showed that New Zealand currently lacks specific guidelines for energy-efficient retrofits of historic buildings, presenting a gap between heritage preservation and environmental sustainability practices. Therefore, education and training programs in digital technologies for heritage conservation should be developed to address these challenges and promote sustainable practices in the field. |
| Keywords: | Digitalization; Energy effeciency; Evaluation; Heritage Building |
| JEL: | R3 |
| Date: | 2025–01–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arz:wpaper:eres2025_302 |
| By: | Phil Evans (The Treasury) |
| Abstract: | Next to the overall New Zealand population, Māori are comparatively young and will comprise a growing proportion of the future workforce. Developing further skills and capabilities among the young Māori population would contribute significantly to economic growth, prosperity, and higher living standards. Māori culture is a unique asset available to the Māori population and of increasing interest to other New Zealanders. It is therefore relevant to examine the intersection of capability, culture, and Māori participation in the economy. How do cultural skills contribute to overall human capital development? Cultural skills and capabilities may be perceived less valuable than ‘core’ skills, such as literacy, and technical skills used in the workplace. This analytical note tests some of those assumptions. Culture is important for fostering a coherent sense of identity that builds resilience and confidence, creating a platform for participation in education, society and the economy. Many cultural skills have broad application. When the skills desired by employers are placed alongside those valued by iwi and Māori enterprises, it becomes apparent that many of those skills align. This suggests that cultural and technical skills should be seen as complementary rather than competing. It is also important to recognise the potential grounding effect of cultural skills in the face of disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence. This note proposes a Te Ao Māori perspective on human capability, based on the He Ara Waiora framework. The findings aim to inform policymakers, researchers, and other interested readers on these matters, while also indicating areas for future research and discussion. |
| JEL: | I24 I25 I31 J15 J24 |
| Date: | 2025–11–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nzt:nztans:an25/13 |