Creative Economy, Cultural Industries and Local Development

The purpose of this paper is to draw a clear picture of creative and cultural industries and of the creative economy, as driving factors of economic growth and local development. To this aim, the paper analyzes some recent data on the significance of the creative economies, reflecting on the concepts of creative and cultural industries. In the text, attention is paid to the links between creative economy and local development on one hand, and the concepts of territorial capital and social capital on the other side. In the end, the work focuses on presenting the results of an in-progress study, about the recent literature on the mentioned issues, presenting a brief overview of some significant works

Microcredit Impact in Northern Africa Countries: A Case Study Analysis

Background: This paper has the objective to study the impact of microcredit projects in North-Africa, from two points of view: - The gender perspective, with focus of the impact of microfinance projects in women’s empowerment - The sectorial perspective, with focus on specific economic and productive sectors, among which the fishing. Objective: the paper is devoted to evaluate, through some case studies, the economic and the social impact of microcredit analyzing how this tool can help improving the social status of women in third countries of the world, with the aim of identifying some patterns to a profitable exploitation of the potential offered by this microfinance instrument. Results: Analysis of the impact of microcredit projects to empower women and people employed in the fishing sector. Conclusion: Microcredit is confirmed to be still a useful tool to promote the empowerment of small communities and to favor the growth of small businesses. The analysis carried out in this paper on particular geographical contexts (North Africa) and sectorial (fishing sector), shows that microcredit, although with considerable limitations - including the objective difficulty to estimate its real impact in fighting against poverty in the medium and long ter

The Role of Remittances in Contributing to Native Countries Development

Migrants have an essential role in contributing to both the growth of native countries’ economies through their remittances and the local European savings; in fact, migrant remittances have been accompanying the migratory phenomenon and are significantly larger than official development assistance. The critical contribution that migrants can make to sustainable growth and employment is significant; it has been increasing over the last decade and continues to grow. Objective: The paper aims to analyse in detail the impact on remittances of non-European migrants, focusing on the effect on the tissue of native countries in terms of economic growth and social development. Results: Numerous researches underline that there is a direct correlation between financial exclusion and poverty. In fact, without access to financial services, savings cannot accrue interest in deposit accounts, they cannot be reinvested in the local economy, and finally, citizens cannot build a credit history, necessary to get creditworthiness. Among the most reliable benefits generated by remittances, there is just the possibility to save and invest money, increasing the average living standard of poor families, reducing the demand on public social programmes, and finally contributing to the increase the national income and the human capital, curbing the further emigration of poor sections of the population and reducing tensions linked to high unemployment in native countries. Conclusion: Despite the increasingly widespread feelings of hate and rejection against migrants currently diffused in Europe, economic migrants represent an added value both for the host countries and for native countries. The importance and the role that remittances can have in favouring the socio-economic development of the native nations represent only one of the positive aspects, without considering the concern for the European

Industrie culturali ed economia creativa: il rapporto con lo sviluppo locale ed il capitale sociale

This paper aims at reflecting on the relationship among creative and cultural industries, creative economy and local development. In addition, the paper focuses on the link between local development, territorial capital and social capital. The essay explores, in the end, some significant works, chosen from the recent literature dealing with the theme of creative economies

The role of cultural heritage in promoting socio-economic development: an analysis on emerging countries

communities and the so-called “heritage communities” of which such heritage is an expression, is becoming an increasingly important vehicle for the economic and social development, especially in emerging countries. The places that express the history, culture and values of the human collectives can become, in this way, laboratories in which the knowledge and the traditions are reinterpreted in a continuous dialogue. Of such valorization and of such dialogue, the emerging countries can benefit in view of a profitable local development that can also propose diversified and seasonally adjusted tourism routes, able to bring constant tourist flows, with positive economic and social consequences. In light of these considerations, the paper aims to explore the different paths through which, in emerging countries, it is possible to create new models of development also through innovative ways of dialogue with the so-called “patrimonial communities”. Central will be a reflection on how the most recent international patterns to promote social and economic development can be “translated” and adapted to specific developing geographic and sectoral contexts

Donor selection for allogenic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation: clinical and ethical considerations

Allogenic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an established treatment for many diseases. Stem cells may be obtained from different sources: mobilized peripheral blood stem cells, bone marrow, and umbilical cord blood. The progress in transplantation procedures, the establishment of experienced transplant centres, and the creation of unrelated adult donor registries and cord blood banks gave those without an human leucocyte antigen- (HLA-) identical sibling donor the opportunity to find a donor and cord blood units worldwide. HSCT imposes operative cautions so that the entire donation/transplantation procedure is safe for both donors and recipients; it carries with it significant clinical, moral, and ethical concerns, mostly when donors are minors. The following points have been stressed: the donation should be excluded when excessive risks for the donor are reasonable, donors must receive an accurate information regarding eventual adverse events and health burden for the donors themselves, a valid consent is required, and the recipient’s risks must be outweighed by the expected benefits. The issue of conflict of interest, when the same physician has the responsibility for both donor selection and recipient care, is highlighted as well as the need of an adequate insurance protection for all the parties involved

Narrare il patrimonio culturale. Approcci partecipativi per la valorizzazione di musei e territori

In contemporary multicultural societies, museums must assume a new role and have to renew the relationship with the public. They have to become more and more centres for cultural elaboration «of» territories and «inside» territories, engine for the development of a new culture of social inclusion and participation in the cultural life of societies, especially for the public that still have difficulties to access cultural heritage. Strategic realities for the maintenance and the reinterpretation of cultural identity, the museums, also rooted in specific local contexts, are actually trying to exploit innovative strategies to strengthen and re-enact the relationship with communities and territories of which they express values, history and culture. In this context, of particular importance are some experiences of innovative itineraries to visit museum collections and cultural sites, adopting methodologies such as the «storytelling», with the active cooperation of local communities as «interpreter» of cultural heritage

Il turismo religioso nello Himachal Pradesh. Prospettive antropologiche

This paper focuses on the dynamics of religious tourism in the State of Himachal Pradesh (north-western India), with particular reference to the Kulu district. Popularly known as «Devbhumi», «the land of Gods», the Himachal Pradesh is receiving huge tourism flows, with arrivals from both the Indian sub-continent and from abroad, because of the beauty of its landscapes but also due to its religious attractions. A peculiar religious horizon characterises this geographical and cultural context; along with a traditional religiosity, linked to the Hinduism, there are intensive practices of oracular possession cults to the main local aboriginal deities, whose temples are a place of pilgrimage