Discussion papers and evidence reviews

Our discussion papers provide authentic and independent research about the creative industries and an informed discussion of the policy issues that shape or support them. We encourage researchers both in the PEC and beyond to contribute to the series. See the guidelines for discussion papers and submit a PEC discussion paper for consideration to our Research Director Bruce Tether at bruce.tether@manchester.ac.uk

See our current research programme for key publications through to March 2021 including current research commissions and co-commissions.

Research Areas

The Value of Arts and Culture

Culture in Quarantine? Cultural institutions’ uses of Twitter during lockdown

Authors: Dr Jenny Kidd, Dr Eva Nieto McAvoy

How museums and galleries used social media to engage the public during Covid-19 lockdowns

Discussion Paper
Geography of the Creative Industries

The relationships between cultural organisations and local creative industries in the context of a cultural district

Authors: Natalia Vartapetova, Harry Fisher-Jones, Christie Lam

How planned 'cultural districts' can support local growth

Discussion Paper
R&D and Innovation

Starving the Golden Goose? Access to Finance for Innovators in the Creative Industries

Authors: Dr Salvatore Di Novo, Professor Giorgio Fazio, Professor Jonathan Sapsed, Dr Josh Siepel

A paper looking at the barriers that are preventing creative firms from accessing R&D investment.

Discussion Paper
Public Service Broadcasting

What is the Public Value of Public Service Broadcasting?

Authors: Professor Stuart Allan, Dr Tom Chivers

Exploring challenges and opportunities in evolving media contexts

Discussion Paper
R&D and Innovation

Pivot to Digital: How Museums and Galleries Responded to COVID-19

Authors: Dr Jenny Kidd, Dr Eva Nieto McAvoy, Dr Ania Ostrowska

The experience of moving to digital platforms during a pandemic

Discussion Paper
International, Trade, and Immigration

Creative firms and trade

Authors: Dr Salvatore Di Novo, Professor Giorgio Fazio, ​Dr Sara Maioli

Facts and figures from the CIC Access to Finance Survey on the UKs creative trade

Discussion Paper
Skills, Jobs and Education

Growth through skills: Lessons from the Thames Estuary Production Corridor

Authors: Lesley Giles, Heather Carey

Lessons for designing effective skills policies for local creative industries

Discussion Paper
The Value of Arts and Culture

The European Capital of Culture: A review of the academic evidence

Authors: Oriane Nermond, ​Dr Neil Lee, ​Dr Dave O’Brien

A literature review & policy implications of the impact of the Capital of Culture on local economies

Discussion Paper
Intellectual Property and Regulation

The emergence of platform regulation in the UK

Authors: Professor Martin Kretschmer, Ula Furgal, ​Professor Philip Schlesinger

A discussion paper examining the emerging field of platform regulation in the UK

Discussion Paper
R&D and Innovation

R&D, design and innovation: Examining the links in the creative industries

Author: Professor Bruce Tether

A paper examing the responses to a DCMS survey about creative firms and R+D

Discussion Paper
Skills, Jobs and Education

Creating value in place

Authors: Professor Nick Henry, Dr Victoria Barker, Paul Sissons, Dr Kevin Broughton, Peter Dickinson, Jordan Lazell, Dr Tim Angus

A discussion paper looking at the role, contribution and challenges of creative freelance work

Discussion Paper
The Value of Arts and Culture

Comparative analysis of pay and conditions: London's West End and New York's Broadway

Author: Heidi Ashton

The employment conditions, wages and precarity of work for freelance musical theatre performers

Discussion Paper
Skills, Jobs and Education

The challenges facing freelancers in Scottish Film and TV

Authors: Dr Alistair Scott, Dr Neil Davidson

A discussion paper identifying the barriers to sustaining a freelance career in film and TV

Discussion Paper
International, Trade, and Immigration

The UK’s international creative trade: A review of the official data sources

Authors: Professor Giorgio Fazio, Dr Salvatore Di Novo, ​Dr Sara Maioli, Professor Jonathan Sapsed, Dr Wessel Vermeulen

A review of the national and international data sources used to measure creative trade.

Discussion Paper
International, Trade, and Immigration

A review of creative trade in the economics literature

Author: Professor Giorgio Fazio

A review of the economics literature on creative international trade

Discussion Paper
Geography of the Creative Industries

Evolution and trends of creative cluster research

Authors: ​Martha Bloom, ​Dr Roberto Camerani, Dr Patrizia Casadei, ​Dr Monica Masucci, Dr Josh Siepel, Dr Jorge Velez-Ospina

A systematic literature review and future research agenda

Discussion Paper
International, Trade, and Immigration

International creative students: their significance for UK universities, regions and the creative industries

Authors: Dr Wessel Vermeulen, Dr Salvatore Di Novo, Professor Giorgio Fazio

Investigating the overlooked issue of the international attractiveness of creative degrees

Discussion Paper
Skills, Jobs and Education

A skills monitor for the Creative Industries

Authors: Lesley Giles, Mark Spilsbury, Heather Carey

Workplace perspectives: skill needs, mismatches and development in the creative industries

Discussion Paper
Geography of the Creative Industries

Relatedness between the Creative Industries and the wider economy: A primer

Author: ​Dr Neil Lee

Exploring the idea that industries using similar skills or tech can develop new sector specialisms

Discussion Paper
Cross-cutting

Measuring the creative economy: a guide for policymakers

Author: Hasan Bakhshi

Understanding a segment of the economy that is becoming more important in many countries

Discussion Paper
Diversity and Inclusion

Skills, talent and diversity in the creative industries: critical issues and evidence gaps

Authors: Heather Carey, ​Rebecca Florisson, Lesley Giles

Nine-month evidence synthesis identifies most pressing skills & diversity challenges in the sector

Discussion Paper
The Value of Arts and Culture

Immersive experiences in museums, galleries and heritage sites: a review of research findings and issues

Authors: Dr Jenny Kidd, Dr Eva Nieto McAvoy

Opportunities and challenges of immersive experiences for arts and heritage organisations

Discussion Paper
Geography of the Creative Industries

Mind the gap: regional inequalities in the UK's creative industries

Author: Professor Bruce Tether

Examining the distribution and growth of the creative industries in the UK at the regional level

Discussion Paper