WP 137 | 25 Geography of social enterprises in cultural and creative industries in Italy

Publication date: 27 August 2025
Publication categories: Working papers
Arguments: Theory and definitions, Legal analysis, Measurement and statistics, Local development
Organizational types: Social enterprises, Social cooperatives, Third sector organizations
Tags: Social enterprise; Cultural and creative industries; Italy

This research explores the spatial distribution of cultural and creative social enterprises (CCSE) in Italy. Specifically, the aim is to answer the following research questions: (1) How are social enterprises in the cultural and creative industries distributed across Italy? (2) What factors influence this distribution? The study draws on the literature on creative economy and social enterprises to explore these issues. Firm-level data from the Aida-Bureau van Dijk database and the Third Sector Single National Register (RUNTS) are used. The analysis employs aggregated data at the provincial level (NUTS-3). Geographical patterns are analysed through location quotients and Moran’s I test, while ordinary least squares regression is used to identify possible socio-economic determinants. The findings reveal the absence of the typical North-South divide in the distribution of CCSE clusters across Italian provinces and point out a complex interplay between demand and supply factors behind it.

 

JEL CODES 

L26; R12; Z10

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