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on Cultural Economics |
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Issue of 2026–02–23
four papers chosen by Roberto Zanola, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | Marco Palomeque (Universidad Complutense de Madrid); Jürgen Rösch (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar); Mafalda Gómez-Vega (Universidad de Valladolid) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines gender inequality in popular music using a newly constructed, comprehensive dataset covering the universe of songs that entered the Billboard Hot 100 between 1958 and 2025. By integrating chart histories with artist-level characteristics across multiple sources, the dataset enables dynamic analyses of participation, performance, and survival that were previously infeasible at this scale and horizon. Combining structural break analysis, dynamic participation models, and artists’ performance regressions, we show that non-male representation does not evolve cumulatively but is repeatedly reset at moments of technological and institutional change. Participation rises within regimes but drops sharply at structural transitions, consistent with renewed uncertainty and gatekeeping. Conditional on chart entry, non-male artists systematically over-perform at entry and peak visibility, yet exhibit weaker chart persistence, a pattern strongest in periods of stagnating participation. We interpret these findings as evidence of a Sisyphus Effect in the music industry, whereby higher effective entry thresholds force non-male artists to repeatedly rebuild representation under changing industry conditions. More broadly, the paper highlights conditional over-performance as a general empirical strategy for identifying discrimination in truncated markets when under-representation is observed in-sample. |
| Keywords: | Gender, Discrimination, Cultural Markets, Music Industry, Structural Change, Selection, Performance |
| JEL: | J16 J71 J24 Z11 |
| Date: | 2026–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cue:wpaper:awp-02-2026 |
| By: | Qiankun Zhong; Thomas F. Eisenmann; Julian Garcia; Iyad Rahwan |
| Abstract: | Reliance on generative AI can reduce cultural variance and diversity, especially in creative work. This reduction in variance has already led to problems in model performance, including model collapse and hallucination. In this paper, we examine the long-term consequences of AI use for human cultural evolution and the conditions under which widespread AI use may lead to "cultural collapse", a process in which reliance on AI-generated content reduces human variation and innovation and slows cumulative cultural evolution. Using an agent-based model and evolutionary game theory, we compare two types of AI use: complement and substitute. AI-complement users seek suggestions and guidance while remaining the main producers of the final output, whereas AI-substitute users provide minimal input, and rely on AI to produce most of the output. We then study how these use strategies compete and spread under evolutionary dynamics. We find that AI-substitute users prevail under individual-level selection despite the stronger reduction in cultural variance. By contrast, AI-complement users can benefit their groups by maintaining the variance needed for exploration, and can therefore be favored under cultural group selection when group boundaries are strong. Overall, our findings shed light on the long-term, population-level effects of AI adoption and inform policy and organizational strategies to mitigate these risks. |
| Date: | 2026–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2602.03541 |
| By: | Siar, Sheila V.; Serafica, Ramonette B.; Oren, Queen Cel A. |
| Abstract: | This exploratory study examines the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Philippine media industry, particularly in news media, highlighting both opportunities and challenges. It utilizes a qualitative research method that includes desk reviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions with representatives of news media organizations, journalism and communication departments of universities, professional associations, a law firm, and an AI consulting firm. AI adoption in Philippine news media is a relatively recent phenomenon, with most news organizations adopting AI in the early 2020s and private entities leading the way. Some organizations have developed internal AI policies, while others are either crafting or refining their guidelines, indicating self-regulation initiatives. While AI is increasingly used across many newsroom tasks, human oversight and transparency are considered essential to maintain journalistic integrity. It is generally perceived as an augmentation tool rather than a replacement for human work. While there have been no reported job losses linked to AI, concerns persist. Key drivers of AI adoption include having young, tech-savvy staff, a culture of innovation, bottom-up adoption, cost-effectiveness, faster content production, digital competitiveness, and skills enhancement. However, concerns such as inaccuracies in AI-generated output, job displacement, subscription costs, and resistance from older staff and those who prefer traditional methods limit adoption. The perceived risks associated with AI are multifaceted and include hallucinations and biases in AI outputs, the exacerbation of misinformation, and job displacement. Other concerns include cybersecurity breaches, copyright issues, AI over-reliance that could diminish human capacity, the adverse impacts on the sustainability of news media, and environmental consequences. While AI improves operational efficiency, enhances productivity, and boosts audience engagement, it has also posed complex challenges that threaten the sustainability, integrity, and intellectual property of news media organizations. These challenges include declining revenues due to AI-powered platforms that deliver news summaries directly to audiences, diverting traffic away from news sites; the content scraping by platforms and AI tools, which raises serious copyright issues on top of the revenue losses experienced by news publishers; the low accountability of platforms and content creators for the content they circulate, especially when it involves copyrighted materials and false information; and the difficulties that small media organizations face to adapt to the digital age. To address these challenges and promote ethical and responsible use of AI, the study proposes several measures for AI governance. These include developing compensation policies for the media content used in AI training and on various platforms, exploring sustainable business and funding models, holding platforms accountable, enhancing the enforcement of existing laws, supporting small media organizations, developing localized AI models and tools, enhancing media self-regulation, making journalism education responsive to an AI-driven media landscape, enhancing media and information literacy, and addressing digital and AI gaps. Collaboration among all stakeholders is crucial to managing risks and leveraging AI’s potential to strengthen the Philippine news media industry’s role in society. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@pids.gov.ph. |
| Keywords: | artificial intelligence, generative AI, automation, augmentation, news media, journalism, platform, disinformation, misinformation, intellectual property, copyright |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2025-39 |
| By: | Gabriel M. Ahlfeldt; Elisabetta Pietrostefani; Ailin Zhang |
| Abstract: | We illustrate the coordination problem in the provision of distinctive architectural design that arises from design externalities within a quantitative model. To quantify the model, we conduct a quantitative review of a growing literature concerned with the costs and benefits of distinctive design as well as a survey of architectural design preferences. We find that distinctive buildings sell at a 15% premium, on average. Positive design spillovers from distinctive nearby buildings result in a 9% premium. Distinctive buildings, however, are about 25% more expensive to build. The distribution of design ratings within buildings is well described by a Fréchet distribution with a shape parameter of about 4. Parametrising the model to match these moments, we show in counterfactual simulations that the optimal subsidy of distinctive buildings amounts to 10% of construction costs. |
| Keywords: | architecture, design, economics, regulation, welfare |
| Date: | 2026–02–13 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp2150 |