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Abstract
This research analyses the impact of the creative sector on total employment and on the creative sector's employment growth in Western Germany's regions from 1977 to 2004. For the analysis, the definitions of the creative sector follow a technologically and culturally oriented definition and, alternatively, Florida's creative class (2002). These approaches are contrasted with a skill-based approach. Using a fixed-effects panel model with time lags, the results support the view that the creative sector fosters the regional growth rate of total employment. The results suggest, moreover, that an initially large share of regional creative professionals pushes the regional concentration of those professions in agglomerated regions further. The driving force behind the concentration of creative professionals is local amenities—measured by bohemians—and it is assumed that knowledge spillovers—possibly accelerated by diversity and close proximity—contribute to this polarization. These results are also confirmed for highly skilled agents.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the participants of the 3rd Research Seminar on “Creative Regions in Europe”, especially Roberta Comunian (School of Geography, University of Southampton), Caroline Chapain (Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, University of Birmingham), Nick Clifton (Centre for Advanced Studies, Cardiff University) and the local organizers for helpful comments and support. This research is based on some results of the author's thesis project “Germany's creative sector and its impact on employment growth”. I thank Wolfram Elsner of the University of Bremen and an unknown referee for their input and worthwhile comments on this paper.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. The analysis is based on data from the IABS 1975–2004. Access to the data is possible through a Scientific-Use-File, which can be provided by the Nuremberg Research Data Center FDZ (2008) (“Die Datengrundlage dieses Beitrags bildet die faktisch anonymisierte IAB Beschäftigtenstichprobe (IABS 1975 to 2004). Der Datenzugang erfolgte über einen Scientific Use File, der vom Forschungsdatenzentrum der Bundesagentur für Arbeit im Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB) zu beziehen ist”).