Abstract

The paper focuses upon the structure and features of cultural districts, arguing that their evolution within an efficient institutional framework can favour their diffusion also in developing economies. Based upon the presence of aggregation externalities and of idiosincracy of cultural products, cultural districts need the introduction and implementation of ad hoc policies. This can be of crucial importance when the time and space features of a culturebased production allow the development of a cultural institutional district: the museum, urban, tourist or heritage districts require an active role of public institutions, mainly aimed at protecting the intellectual property rights arising from cultural production.