Abstract

The relevance of culture within local progress has been broadly acknowledged in the last 20-30 years. As regional economists, our main interest towards this particular element is strictly linked to its deeply territorial nature and its potential positive impact on the development of different areas. Reasoning on culture, however, is no easy task and this is mainly due to the multidimensional nature of what falls inside this category. This contribution aims to shed light on the varied existing perspectives on culture, on their role in affecting local performance, and on the channels through which the relationship between culture and development is expected to work at the territorial level. The main current challenges and possible future advancements in this field of research are also highlighted.