European Capitals of Culture and life satisfaction

Abstract

This paper analyses whether hosting the most prestigious European cultural event, the European Capital of Culture, has an impact on regional economic development and the life satisfaction of the local population. We show that European Capitals are hosted in regions with above-average GDP per capita, but do not causally affect the economic development in a significant way. Surprisingly, using difference-in-difference estimations, a negative effect on the wellbeing of the regional population is found during the event. Since no effect is found before the event, reverse causality and positive anticipation can be ruled out. The negative effect during the event might result from dissatisfaction with the high levels of public expenditure, transport disruptions, general overcrowding or an increase in housing prices.

Sustainability and Sustainability Marketing in Competing for the Title of European Capital of Culture

“…Consumer city (Glaeser et al, 2001)) creates positive economic outcomes (for income and employment), but also meets with opposition (van Aalst and van Melik, 2012). There are authors (Aubert et al, 2015;Nechita, 2015;Draghici at al., 2015;Steiner et al, 2015) who emphasise several negative aspects or difficulties, such as the underestimation of costs and the overestimation of possible benefits; fewer comprehensive changes; difficulties in measuring the economic and social impact, the lack of long-term sustainability projects; a lack of finance to support the new cultural infrastructure both following the year of the ECoC and later from a long-term perspective; the negative effect on the wellbeing of the regional population, etc.…”

Urbanisation, natural amenities and subjective well-being: Evidence from US counties

“…Big cities may also offer better and more diverse consumption opportunities for numerous goods such as museums, theatres, music, professional sports, public transit, heath care and specialised restaurants (Albouy, 2008; Berry and Waldfogel, 2010; Borck, 2007; Glaeser et al, 2001). However, urbanisation also likely increases living costs, congestion, pollution, traffic and crime and reduces public greenspace, all of which can decrease life-satisfaction (Ambrey and Fleming, 2014; Berry and Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2011; Navarro-Azorín, and Artal-Tur, 2015; Sander, 2011; Smyth et al, 2008; Steiner et al, 2015; Stutzer and Frey, 2008). Increased urbanisation may also create a perceived need for urban planners to zone segregated uses and discourage mixed-use neighborhoods that Jane Jacobs (1961) viewed as critical for the well-being of cities and the people in them.…”

Leeuwarden 2018: Complexity of Leisure‐Led Regional Development in A European Capital of Culture

“…Regions hosting ECOC events between 1985 and 2002 showed higher housing costs and an increased crime rate (Steiner et al . ). Relatively small changes in leisure can have strong effects on the region as a whole.…”

“…Effects of hosting an ECOC event include economic, socio‐cultural and life‐satisfaction aspects (Herrero ; Liu ; Steiner et al . ). Leisure, which we use as an encompassing concept that refers to tourism and recreation related phenomena (Walmsley ), often plays a central role in ECOCs.…”