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Toward a political economy of World Heritage

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  • Enrico Bertacchini

  • Donatella Saccone

Abstract

The article explores the factors influencing the nomination and selection of heritage sites in the World Heritage List. Using country panel data and a unique dataset with individual site nominations, we provide evidence that the nomination of heritage sites to the List depends on the institutional and economic conditions of countries, and site selection is subject to rent-seeking by states and experts involved in the decision-making process. In particular, we test whether political factors, such as the involvement of countries in the World Heritage Committee, influence the inscription of national heritage sites in the List. The article contributes to the cultural economics literature by providing new insights into the political economy of conservation and promotion of heritage at the international level. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Enrico Bertacchini & Donatella Saccone, 2012. "Toward a political economy of World Heritage," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 36(4), pages 327-352, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jculte:v:36:y:2012:i:4:p:327-352
    DOI: 10.1007/s10824-012-9169-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dreher, Axel & Sturm, Jan-Egbert & Vreeland, James Raymond, 2009. "Development aid and international politics: Does membership on the UN Security Council influence World Bank decisions?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 1-18, January.
    2. John M. Piotrowski & Mr. Rabah Arezki & Reda Cherif, 2009. "Tourism Specialization and Economic Development: Evidence from the UNESCO World Heritage List," IMF Working Papers 2009/176, International Monetary Fund.
    3. IIde Rizzo & Ruth Towse (ed.), 2002. "The Economics of Heritage," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2770.
    4. Isidoro Mazza, 2011. "Public Choice," Chapters, in: Ruth Towse (ed.), A Handbook of Cultural Economics, Second Edition, chapter 51, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Peacock, Alan & Rizzo, Ilde, 2008. "The Heritage Game: Economics, Policy, and Practice," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199213177.
    6. Dreher, Axel & Jensen, Nathan M, 2007. "Independent Actor or Agent? An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of U.S. Interests on International Monetary Fund Conditions," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 50(1), pages 105-124, February.
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    1. Cuccia, Tiziana & Guccio, Calogero & Rizzo, Ilde, 2016. "The effects of UNESCO World Heritage List inscription on tourism destinations performance in Italian regions," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 494-508.
    2. Bertacchini, Enrico & Revelli, Federico & Zotti, Roberto, 2024. "The economic impact of UNESCO World Heritage: Evidence from Italy," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    3. Yang, Yang & Xue, Lan & Jones, Thomas E., 2019. "Tourism-enhancing effect of World Heritage Sites: Panacea or placebo? A meta-analysis," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 29-41.
    4. Martina Dattilo & Fabio Padovano & Yvon Rocaboy, 2020. "More is worse: Decreasing marginal quality of the Unesco World Heritage list," Economics Working Paper from Condorcet Center for political Economy at CREM-CNRS 2020-01-ccr, Condorcet Center for political Economy.
    5. Canale, Rosaria Rita & De Simone, Elina & Di Maio, Amedeo & Parenti, Benedetta, 2019. "UNESCO World Heritage sites and tourism attractiveness: The case of Italian provinces," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 114-120.

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    JEL classification:

    • Z11 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economics of the Arts and Literature
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • F5 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy

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