ABSTRACT
Creativity is progressively becoming a source of competitive advantage, not only for firms but especially for local systems, and is also becoming an important objective for development policies paying particular attention to the territorial dimension of innovative processes. An appropriate policy centred on the development of a creative economy, that stimulates and rejuvenates the various forms of knowledge, can offer new opportunities from an economic, social and cultural point of view. Such opportunities can trigger an increase of competitiveness, attractivity and social welfare at a local level. This is the more so if we consider how places can attract human capital and talent as a result not only of market forces but also of non-market forces (Glaeser, 1999) – not only through new economic opportunities but also through ‘lifestyle amenities’ and a high quality of life (Gottlieb, 1995; Kotlin, 2000; Lloyd and Clark, 2001).
