Abstract

The paper is a review of the work of Paolo Leon (1935-2016), Emeritus Professor of Public Economics at the University of Rome Three, in the field of cultural economics, director of this revue from 2002 to 2014. Within his broader research interests in economic policy and public economics, Paolo Leon has been a leading and influential scholar in nurturing and consolidating an Italian approach in the economics of cultural heritage and cultural activities and industries. The paper reviews his contributions during more than thirty years of academic and applied research, taking also account of a tireless and informed participation to the Italian and European public discussion on cultural policies and policies for the preservation of historic, artistic and archaeological heritage. The Paolo Leon' intellectual legacy in this field is linked not only with his academic work (culture as a Musgrave-type merit good, tools for the economic and impact evaluation of public projects in the cultural sector, cultural sector as an engine for local economic development, appraisal and contribution to the Italian national policies for culture, and more), but also with his work as an applied economist, providing expertise and consultancy to a large number of Italian institutions for the realization of public and public-private projects for the preservation of heritage and the improvement of cultural organizations.