Cultural Economics and Industrial Heritage

Abstract

This dissertation has been made within a PhD program at the University of Seville, Department of Applied Economics and Economic History, aiming at the Diploma de Estudios Avanzados (DEA); an intermediate degree prior to the doctorate. This work is an attempt to compile and shape the fledgling discipline of heritage with regard to the remains of the industrial civilization. So far the industrial heritage has been approached from the archeology, the architecture, the history and/or the art; however, its study from the point of view of economics is rather scarce. To a large extent, this endeavour is based on the knowledge of The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) who plays a major role as a source of knowledge and authoritative practices in heritage. An economic interpretation of heritage is underlying all along the dissertation. This study is an advance enquiry into the discipline and is composed of three main chapters. Firstly, it approaches cultural economics as a new discipline, the role of the industrial culture as a heritage and the potentialities of heritage from a cultural point of view; then, it is explained the nature, characteristics, delimitation and role of heritage within cultural economics. Secondly, it is made an analytical approach to heritage, particularly cultural built heritage (CBH), from the point of view of economics; the economic impact of conservation and the different methods of heritage valuation are explained. Thirdly, it is presented the legal protection of heritage; from the particular case of the autonomous region of Andalusia (Spain) to the international sphere: inter-governmental organizations such as The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Council of Europe (CoE). The work is a theoretical an analytical approach to the industrial heritage based on a literature review and state-of-the-art knowledge and practice. Also, it draws on a number of cases all around Europe to shed light on the preservationist movement and the public presentation of heritage (museums).