Overview of the creative economy in 2010

The United Nations published its first report focused on the creative industries in early 2008, at a time when the world economy was in a period of expansion. The report concluded that the creative industries are among the most dynamic sectors of the world economy and create new, highly growth-oriented opportunities for developing countries.

Since that report was written, the world economy has gone through a great deal of turbulence. Inevitably, all territories and countries were affected by the global economic recession, and progress toward the Millennium Development Goals was put at risk. Even now, the global economy remains fragile (note that the report belongs to 2010).

This report builds on the analyses of its previous reports, together with new and updated data, showing how creativity, knowledge, culture, and technology can drive job creation, innovation, and social inclusion. This indicates why, at a time when the overall level of world trade had declined, trade in creative goods and services worldwide still remained strong.

Times of crisis present opportunities to look at new options, approaches, and strategic directions. This report discusses that although the growth of the creative industries is not itself an economic panacea, it potentially offers more flexible, more inclusive, and more environmentally suitable paths for economic recovery.

Overall, the creative industries sector can make a large contribution to growth and welfare, especially for developing countries that are seeking to diversify their economies and want to make themselves more resilient to future economic crises.

The report examines the following topics in detail:

• Evolving concepts and definitions related to the creative economy
• The main drivers of the creative economy at the global level
• The multiple dimensions of the creative economy
• The multiple nature of the creative industries
• The creative economy in the developed world
• The development dimensions of the creative economy
• Policy implications of the Millennium Development Goals for the creative economy
• Implications of relations and development in the creative economy
• Traditional knowledge and culture in the creative economy
• The creative economy in the developing world and transition economies
• Analysis of the creative economy
• Why systematic analysis is needed
• Creative economy organizations
• Economic review and analysis of the creative industries
• The structure of the creative industries
• Distribution and competition problems
• Measuring the constraints and potential of the creative industries
• The role of intellectual property and technology in the creative industries
• Promoting the creative economy in order to develop it