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Recently, we conducted research on the multiplier effects and pay-off effects in the cultural and creative sector, commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. We focused on (1) economic effects, (2) health effects, and (3) the effect of design research.
Economic effects: the cultural and creative sector accounts for 4.1% – 4.5% of employment in the Netherlands, equating to 330,000 to 368,000 jobs. In absolute terms, the contribution of culture and media to the GDP increased from €23.9 to €26.5 billion between 2015 and 2018. This represents 2.5% to 3.5% of the total in the Netherlands. There are also direct and indirect economic effects, such as (1) effects on the broader value chain, (2) driving innovation and productivity, and (3) effects on the living environment.
Health effects: cultural interventions have demonstrable positive effects on various health aspects. These interventions result in increased quality of life and reduced pain, stress, and anxiety among participants. Furthermore, research suggests that the use of cultural interventions could even be cost-effective, with potential savings of over €100 million.
Effects of design research: conducting a sound economic impact analysis for design research was challenging in this study. 'Insiders' indicate that the implementation of design research should lead to shortened lead times, innovative and higher-quality solutions, increased support, and socially desirable outcomes. The main direct effect is seen as obtaining new insights into the issues under investigation and identifying (innovative) solution directions. For now, we mainly rely on anecdotal examples and qualitative evidence, to the extent available.
Interested in this research? Download the relevant Chamber letter and report here or contact Jasper Veldman.