Economic downturn: A threat for creative city policy or blessing in disguise?

Economic downturn: A threat for creative city policy or blessing in disguise?

Romein, A.
Trip, J.J.

OTB Research Institute for the Built Environment

OTB Research

2011-04-30

Since at least a decade the creative city concept is very much en vogue. Culture and creativity are regarded drivers of urban economic development, and therefore as important elements of urban economic policy. In practice however, local policy in many cities is determined by a considerable degree of path dependency, while the creative city concept is not very solidly embedded in local policy. Irrespective of whether the global economic downturn that started in 2008 is under control again – as some comment – or not, it leaves little doubt that it can be regarded as a structural factor of change of the context for local creative city policy. Although a relevant issue from the perspective of the creative city, systematic research on the effects of downturn is scarce as far as yet. By presenting a highly explorative analysis of these impacts, this paper intends to contribute to stop this gap. It aims to offer clues for more detailed research of the potentialities of creative city policy in financial and economically difficult times, and to enable local policy makers to further define their position with regard to creative city policy. The paper explores the issue from two opposite perspectives. First, the crisis might be considered a challenge to take the path towards a creative industry-oriented economy more decisively. Alternatively, however, downturn may also be a factor that causes a retreat of policy in more ‘safe’ and ‘familiar’ traditional economic activities rather than creative industries and milieus. The analysis builds to a large extent on empirical insights and discussions from the Interreg IVB project Creative City Challenge.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:38896033-645f-4f83-a95a-14ac00a4c0ea

Regional Science Association, Newcastle University

RSA Annual International Conference 2011 'Regional development and policy: challenges, choices and recipients', Newcastle upon Tyne, 17-20 April, 2011

Institutional Repository

conference paper

(c) 2011 Romein, A.
Trip, J.J.