Creative Economy: A Feasible Development Option

Explanatory notes (continued)Obviously, it is not possible to arrive at conclusive comparative results on the real performance of services outputs of creative industries in internationaltrade based on incomplete figures. This is especially the case in that national statistics, when available, do not always follow precisely the internationallyaccepted definitions and guidelines owing to particular priorities and data collection systems of different States.The statistics for categories of services cover many more activities than what would belong to the creative economy alone, with the exception of audiovisualand related services, which can be attributed largely to creative industries. In addition, the subcategory “Other personal, cultural and recreationalservices” could also be assumed to incorporate trade closely related to creativity, bearing in mind, however, that this subcategory still includes internationalservices trade relating to sporting events (health and education are not covered).All the figures used to calculate growth rates by category of services are to be viewed with caution since they refer, of course, to the limited numberof countries that consistently reported on them (only to countries reporting a particular service regularly between 2003 and 2008). The numbers inparentheses after percentages represent the number of countries used in the calculation.For convenience of presentation, titles have been shortened from “advertising, market research and public opinion services” to “advertising and relatedservices” and from “architectural, engineering and other technical services” to “architectural and related services”. These short titles are applied toall statistics tables in chapter 5 and in the statistical annex, with the aim of facilitating readers’ understanding.A decision was taken to present in this report the state-of-the-art evidence base, including the international trade flows on creative goods and services,even if the work of UNCTAD in this area is in its preliminary stage and the results that are being shared are partial and in an incomplete form owing to gapsin data availability. Our main concern was to present what is possible at present on the basis of available data; certainly, much more work is needed.In our continued efforts to compile and analyse more disaggregated and reliable data for creative services, the UNCTAD secretariat presents its “wishlist” with statistics codes in order to encourage individual countries to report better figures for trade in services related to the creative industries in thenear future.Part 3. Related industriesThe trade figures presented for related industries cover those goods produced by industries related to creative activities; that is, supporting industriesor equipment needed to produce or consume creative content. The figures provided in the annex are included for the purpose of market transparencyand as a tool for analysis of future demand. These trade figures for related industries are not included in the totals of creative industries.The list of related goods has also been reviewed and updated. After a careful comparison with the 2009 UNESCO FCS list of “equipment and supportingmaterials of cultural goods” and other statistical methodologies, UNCTAD selected 170 codes in the HS 2002 list of creative industries related goods.The number of codes included in each sector is: visual arts, 49 codes; design, 35 codes; publishing, 11 codes; performing arts, 28 codes; and audiovisuals,42 codes. The tables present the same analysis as those for creative industries (see chapter 5 for further details).As mentioned in chapter 4, the values of exports and imports of “royalties and licence fees” and “computer and information services” are introducedin this group but not included in the total for creative services. The definitions of these two services are from the fifth edition of the IMF Balance ofPayments Manual (BPM5):■■Royalties and license fees (Royalties): “royalties and license fees covers receipts (exports) and payments (imports) of residents and non-residentsfor (i) the authorized use of intangible non-produced, non-financial assets and proprietary rights — such as trademarks, copyrights, patents,processes, techniques, designs, manufacturing rights, franchises, etc. and (ii) the use, through licensing agreements, of produced originals orprototypes — such as manuscripts, films, etc.”Computer and information services: “computer and information services” covers computer data and news-related service transactions betweenresidents and non-residents. Included are databases, such as development, storage, and online time series; data processing — including tabulation,provision of processing services on a time-share or specific (hourly) basis, and management of facilities of others on a continuing basis;hardware consultancy; software implementation — including design, development, and programming of customized systems; maintenance andrepair of computers and peripheral equipment; news agency services — including provision of news, photographs, and feature articles to themedia; and direct, non-bulk subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals.Statistical annex — Explanatory notesCREATIVE ECONOMY REPORT 2010285