The Creative Wealth of Nations : How the Performing Arts Can Advance Development and Human Progress

Kabanda, Patrick

World Bank Group, Washington, DC

关键词: Social Development;    New Economy;    Nation Branding;    International Trade in Services;    Intellectual Property;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7118
RP-ID  :  WPS7118

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Cultural activities are increasinglynoted as drivers of meaningful development. But they haveyet to gain a prominent place in the architecture ofdevelopment strategy. The performing arts, discussed here,exhibit direct effects on social progress and economicgrowth through trade in music, movies, and temporary workpermits for artists, for example. Indirect contributions mayalso include environmental stewardship, tourism, nationbranding, social inclusion, cultural democracy, and shiftingcultural behaviors. These direct and indirect contributionsare not well documented. As such, how is the creative orcultural sector a crucial part of the wealth of nations, andhow could the World Bank Group better leverage theperforming arts in its development strategy? This discussionprovides a broad snapshot, from arts education, to socialinclusion, to international trade in services. Keyconstraints include: the paucity of data and the difficultyof measuring cultural activities, the challenge ofintellectual property, and the unclear benefits of culturaltourism. Part I sets the stage. Part II then provides policyoptions to foster the performing arts as a promising enginefor development. Suggestions include: 1. expanding directinvolvement in artistic projects, 2. increasing the use ofperforming arts to address social issues, 3. collectingdata, 4. promoting intellectual property training programs,5. supporting digital platforms in the developing world thatadvance indigenous music, and 6. funding studies on suchareas as cultural tourism. Progress still needs to be madein the discussion of the diverse ways that the performingarts can contribute to meaningful development.