Creative Economy: A Feasible Development Option

CHAPTER2 The development dimension2Most of the attention in the debate about the creativeeconomy around the world has been paid to developedeconomies, where creative industries are well establishedand where participation in global markets for creativeproducts is strong. In developing economies, however,the situation is more nuanced. Asian countries, led byChina, are experiencing rapid growth in creative capacitiesand in recent years have been benefiting from the competitivenessof their creative products in world markets. Inother areas of the developing world, national strategies toenhance the creative economy are gradually being put inplace but more time is needed for the poorest countries toreinforce their policy and institutional frameworks in orderto take best advantage of their creative talents to fostersocio-economic development. It is more widely recognizedthat developing countries have a vast deposit ofintangible cultural heritage and traditional cultural expressionsthat could be better nurtured. This chapter reviewsthe development dimensions of the creative economy,looking at the economic and cultural linkages, social interactionsand environmental considerations. Policy implicationsin the light of impact of the world economic downturnand its impact for poverty reduction and sustainabledevelopment are discussed. The chapter also presents anoverview of recent developments regarding the creativeeconomy in regions of the developing world.The analysis is presented in the context of theMillennium Development Goals (MDGs) since they representthe international policy environment within whichnational strategies for advancing the creative economy indeveloping countries are being implemented. Chapter 9will further elaborate on the multilateral processes andongoing policy action under implementation by UnitedNations bodies and the international community pursuantto the Millennium Declaration.The development dimension2.1 Policy implications: The Millennium Development GoalsThe MDGs express the international community’scommitment to the global development agenda. There areeight goals with specific targets to be reached by 2015,namely to: (1) eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; (2)achieve universal primary education; (3) promote genderequality and empower women; (4) reduce child mortality;(5) improve maternal health; (6) combat HIV/AIDS,malaria and other diseases; (7) ensure environmental sustainability;and (8) develop a global partnership for development.For a number of developing countries progress in attainingthe MDGs has been slow and was further aggravatedby the devastating impact of the 2008 world financial crisison the global economy. The crisis was especially devastatingin least developed countries (LDCs) that werealready affected by the food crisis and are less able toabsorb external shocks. By 2010, although many developingcountries had made some progress in reducing poverty,the poorest countries are likely to fail to eradicate extremepoverty and hunger within the next five years without a significantimprovement in their economic situation andmore targeted development policies that are supported byinternational cooperation. As the majority of developingcountries, in particular the LDCs, have a large proportionof youth and women who need better access to educationand jobs, the creative economy should be seen as a workablemeans to poverty alleviation and environmentalsustainability.The MDGs address development challenges as aninherent part of the global economy and the life of soci-CREATIVE ECONOMY REPORT 201033