ECONOMICS UNIQUENESS

LIVABLE HISTORIC CITY CORES AND ENABLING ENVIRONMENT ■ 13
index and was tied for fi ft h (with Paris and Vienna) on the social and cultural
sub index.
Th e following chapters give many more examples—from diverse places
around the world facing varied economic and social challenges—that further
demonstrate the role of heritage conservation as a major contributor to economic
development.
Conclusion
In an increasingly urbanized world, cities are competing to attract more foreign
direct investment and businesses, which will provide their citizens with jobs. To
attract such businesses, which in turn will bring talent to the city, a city needs to
provide an attractive and livable urban environment. Th e cities that will be most
successful in creating jobs while reducing poverty will be those that use a variety
of policies to utilize all their resources for creating a healthy environment for
investment and talent. Historic city cores and their cultural heritage assets can
have an eff ective role in diff erentiating a city from its competitors and in improving
livability and attractiveness.
Dublin can be a good case study and an exemplary model for the integration
of cultural heritage conservation in local economic development. Over the
last 20 years, Dublin’s stakeholders have undertaken major projects, in partnerships
between the public and private sector. Dublin’s ability to leverage its cultural
heritage to create a “talent hub” is commendable and shows how cultural
assets of a city have the power to attract knowledge industries and the creative
class. While many of the world’s cities are competing to attract more investment
and create more jobs for their citizens, Dublin has positively diff erentiated
itself from these competitors. Th e key to such successful diff erentiation is
utilizing the urban cultural assets that are unique to the city and contribute to
a livable environment. Dublin has successfully conducted regeneration activities
in its historic core while ensuring the preservation of its authenticity and
historic character.
Th e historic urban fabric of the city has also been well conserved through
a mix of regulations and incentive programs. But Dublin has not stopped at
just conserving its historic buildings. It has also invested in higher education
institutions and revised its immigration policies and labor regulations to
facilitate the infl ux of foreign companies and their employees. All in all, the
conservation activities enhanced the city’s identity as a livable and dynamic
urban environment with good nightlife and leisure facilities, and a strong historic
and cultural background. Such an image was instrumental in building a