Introduction
Cultural Background of Vancouver City; Canada
Culture can be understood as the basic values, beliefs, and norms that help shape the behavior and characters of given people in a society. In most societies, and especially preindustrial societies, it takes the form of religion. The Canadian cultural policy of diversity has profoundly shaped the profile of this country.
The Canadians, especially in Vancouver, have an extraordinarily rich culture. The culture of centric orientation is highly upheld in Vancouver. Therefore, the people’s believes are highly influential for the residents of Vancouver.
The culture of centric orientation has promoted creativity in the City of Vancouver through various means; for instance, through artistry, diverse expressions, imagination and inclusivity. The combinations of these factors have seen Vancouver flourish culturally and economically.
Creativity among the people of Vancouver has improved the living standards of the people. Creative City of Vancouver, which is culturally embedded, has promoted equal access to opportunities, businesses and the general community well being (City of Vancouver, p. 2).
Creative City is conceived in Canada as a place where diversity, artistry, and culture are inclusive. This has facilitated local economic development (Bradford, p. 2-7). Here, the economy is driven by knowledge-based industries that are clustered and work through high levels of interaction and communication.
In so doing, they avoid the earlier problems of raw materials that limited their geographical location or positioning. The warm and rich cultural climate in Vancouver has attracted many investors.
These include investors from both local and external countries such as the USA, India, China, and Britain among others. The central values here include urban and economic sustainability, as well as the welfare of the people that is achieved through creative initiative and industrial development.
Canada practices creative governance, a concept that favors its economic development. This is achieved through democratic governance that involves transparency, imaginativeness, adaptable city states, and inclusivity.
Also, there is a strong and creative workforce, industry, networking, connectivity, and competitiveness that boost the economic well being of Canada. Collaborative governance, city regions, scale politics, and social inclusivity have also played a significant role in economic prosperity (Smith and Katie, p. 3).
Vancouver’s population are people with different beliefs, values, visions and lifestyles. The Canadians are extremely close in their economic perspectives and move towards a creative city as a whole. Emphasis on protectionism of Canadian culture has been crucial in ensuring that Canada continues to grow economically.
People’s ways of lives are directly related with their economic advancement. Canada realized this factor and came up with a cultural protection policy. This was aimed at preventing foreign cultures from interfering with what was considered to be ways of lives of Canadians.
It involved offering incentives to firms that produced films and other television shows that illustrated and promoted the culture of the Canadians. On the other hand, cultural norms and beliefs were believed to hinder the economic well being of people.
Some cultures, in some communities and countries hinder people from taking advantage of economic developments. In Vancouver, culture is highly upheld and is geared towards economic empowerment of the people.
The city of Vancouver has a long history as far as culture is concerned. This dates back to the cultural policy debates whereby cultural norms and beliefs have retained protectionism status in political institutions of Canada.
The earlier efforts to replicate British cultures and artistry in Anglophone Canada were repulsed by Canadians who believed that culture makes people educated and civilized. Vancouver’s cultural organizations emphasize on efficiency in financial management.
This is also an extraordinarily, but essential pillar to economic growth of Canada. Therefore, cultural events were held in an unusually high value because they were, and still are, believed to further a noble goal.
The city of Vancouver has developed national policies and programs that are aimed at protecting and educating the people on the importance of cultural traits for the well being of the citizens. Culture is believed to be immensely valuable, and cannot be exchanged. This is the reason why Canada pursues the culture of inclusivity.
This means tolerance and appreciation of different cultural activities that promote institutionalization of communities in different cultures. In most instances, this applies to the demography of a place, organizations or institutions such as cities, businesses, schools and neighborhoods.
Main objective of the Research
The principle objective of conducting the research is to explore the role of cultural diversity; creative governance; skilled workforce; industrial cluster; connectivity; networking; collaboration; and the culture of inclusivity in relation to economic advancement of Vancouver City.
On the other hand, the general objective is to promote a sustainable and a world class economic development for Canada and the overall well being of the citizenry through technological advancement and innovations.
Literature Review
Hughes’s views on Culture and Development
Cultural activities have led to development of cultural tourism hence elevating a country’s economy. This is because there is absorption of individuals into working in the industries which acts as a revenue earner to a country.
As a result of its international appeal, cultural tourism has become a phenomenon that is essential in tourism and travel industry (Hughes, p. 364). Cultural tourism is often utilized as a tool for marketing and development to widen the tourism policy objectives. Cultural tourism is highly valued by individuals dealing with urban regeneration strategies.
This is because it provides the avenue to reanimate cities; present cultural facilities rejuvenation; and facilitates the creation of new cultural centers. All these enable the cities to be outstanding as compared to other areas. For instance, the Vancouver city has attracted inward investment as a result of cultural tourism.
According to Hughes, there exist mutual benefits between culture and tourism (p.164). Tourism generates the revenue, which is used to maintain cultural resources from interference from human beings and their activities which result into pollution.
In recent years, cultural geography has risen consistently to the challenges of re-figuring and expanding the research field. Alfred Marshall, the British economists, highlighted the positive impacts that can result from clusters of related firms or industries located in a geographic region (Flew, p. 86).
On the other hand, the difference of industries that are creative is due to the externalities arising from industry specialization, occupation, and the city diversities (Lorenzen and Frederiksen, p.155).
With various diversities in industries, cities are able to coordinate knowledge bases that are diverse. In addition, their geographic proximity enhances the distribution of knowledge, ideas, and entrepreneurship skills.
Cave’s views on Clustered Cities
The majority of the work in the industries is project based, time-dependent and contractual. This has provoked the transfer of skills across countries and nations, thus increasing the diversification of culture. Most of the small and medium scale industries provide work on a regular basis.
This helps absorb talents of skilled people from other areas of the globe (Caves, p.355). Geographically clustered cities are identified as professional and financial service centers. This is because they have high consumption levels of services and goods that are cultural.
Hall’s views on Culture and Development
The government invests in urban cities, and this is highly characterized by modern infrastructures. They hold the key industries’ player head offices. Furthermore, the governments have heavily invested in infrastructure of cultural cities that have many galleries extensive networks, universities, libraries, and museums (Hall, p. 7).
Mommaas’s views on Culture and Economics
Cultural clusters nourishment has been perceived as an alternative development source for urban culture. In urban centers and cities, there exists a mixture of functions that promote culture. They range from production, presentation, theatre, arts that are visual, consumption, pop music, and new Medias often clustered in various forms that are spatial.
Whilst some grouping strategies are based on activities that are either cultural or artistic, individuals have included elements of entertainment and leisure such as restaurants and bars among others.
Cultural managers often yearn for expanding and strengthening their market share in an already leisure and cultural competitive market (Mommaas, p.508). In addition, urban planners are striving to rejuvenate the urban quarters with the aim of strengthening creative economy that is local as a result of cultural activities.
Zukin’s views on Culture and Economic
Recently, principal cities have established their festival agendas and museums reopening and developing complex theatres. This has made the culture regeneration agenda move a notch higher. In this context, we identify a move from a policy aiming at occasion organizing.
The shift is a form of consumption that is spectacular and a policy that is refined and tuned. The policy aims at space quarter creating and cultural creativity and production milieus. However, development broadening perspective has stirred a lot of doubt, ambiguities, and conflicts. There is a debate regarding the development character, involved legislations and motives.
Critics are asking various questions such as: are individuals dealing with an interest that is genuine in the advancement of culture? Is there culture or art strategy proper and aims at developing of artistic values that are autonomous? Zukin observes that, whatever the cultural developers and producers initial intention, their acts are mere culture functionalisms and exploitation of culture for the purposes of landscape re-centralization (p.55).
Individuals in the new middle-class consume their products. This has eventually led to erosion of actual artistic values via related space commoditization. Some scholars argue that culture and economics are distinct in regard to the growth of a country. On the other hand, political sociologists and political economists see this view as being mutually exclusive.
They point a finger at the level of analysis used and the general assumptions of human behavior. They also argue that such arguments fail to provide enough parameters of cultural factors.
Previously, there have been several attempts to infer the economic performance of a country to its culture, or relate cultural factors with a country’s historic factors. They continue to argue that unless such factors are quantitatively analyzed, it is hard to test such an argument.
In industrial worlds, cultural values tend to revolve around religion. With industrialization and modernization, cultural values and beliefs become increasingly rational, secular, and exceptionally open to change.
In such a situation, industrialization has a significant role in shaping the culture of a country in the process of modernization. Education development has been identified as significantly aiding economic growths. In general, governments influence the culture practiced by a country.
Incentives are offered for production of programs and films that present the culture of the people of Canada. Also, this is a means of promoting industrial growth of Canadian economy. Such a policy protects local industries from collapse and also plays a role in job creation.
Mahroof’s views on Culture and Economic Development
Modern economic models place much emphasis on variables such as investment in human capital, technological advancement, population growth, and productivity of these factors in economic growth. Mahroof argues that there are other controlled factors that influence the economic growth of a country directly (p. 15).
Such factors include social institutions and government policies. These factors are highly essential in defining the environment where growth takes place. Moreover, there are other factors that impact the factors that facilitate economic growth. Such factors are varied as per the individuals. For instance, self control affects the saving habits of individuals and willingness to invest.
It is common knowledge that not all people practice the saving culture. Self control is a determinant in population growth and education investment. Investment in education leads to development of skilled human capital that further leads to economic growth through efficient and effective use of technology.
Skilled capital is responsible for technological innovations (Mahroof, p.16). Mahroof continues to say that there are other factors that are not directly linked with the economic growth, but play a significant role in it. Such factors include an individual’s commitment and mutual respect among others.
These factors develop work ethics that in turn promotes cooperation, which is a crucial factor in sharing technology and entrepreneur skills. In turn, this promotes business resulting to economic growth.
In actual sense, the above factors relate to values, beliefs and norms which are defined by customary beliefs. Therefore, they play a role in economic progress (Mahroof, p.16).
Lian views on Culture and Economics
According to Lian, most quantitative analyses have omitted the influence of culture on economic development (p.1). Instead, they have mostly dealt with political and economic factors or variables influencing economic development.
Such variables are also modeled around values, norms, and cultural beliefs of a given country in question. Therefore, when explaining the political and economic development, culture remains a central factor.
Lian totally disagrees with Aristotle’s suggestions that diversity presents susceptibility to economic growth (p. 5). Although it was indicated that religious, ethnic, and linguistic diversity presents obstacles to economic progress; such factors may be misguiding.
According to Kayat, cultural practices play a crucial role in the economic development of a nation (p.105). Through cultural tourism, cities are able to expand and stand out. Also, natural resources can be sustained and individuals are proud of showcasing their culture.
The appreciation of culture has led to employment of individuals in industries promoting cultural values. Entrepreneurs are enjoying the benefits of cultural diversity. This is because they are able to develop accommodation areas for tourists. Cultural tourism has enabled the rejuvenation of urban centers. Through cultural activities, there is the intermingling of various people and culture.
This is a result of people being employed in the small and medium scale enterprises that provide goods and services that are culturally based. This has significantly enhanced the diversification of culture further.
Nations should strive to create policies that enable the promotion of culture. Museums and other historical sites should be preserved from human interference. However, through modernization, culture is being eroded. The true cultural and artistic values have been interfered.
There is a considerable variation in cities portfolio activities in terms of financial management, how they are programmed and partially their position. The clustering of culture has mirrored a condition.
In this case, the field of culture has been diversified with cultures and arts being reproduced both in the public and private sectors (Granato, Inglehart and Leblang, p. 35).
Methodology
The study will be exploratory and will expound on the perceptions concerning cultural values and their influence on economic development. The study focuses on the role of cultural variables, values, and norms in economic development in larger cities and some rural communities.
Such variables include creative governance, connectivity and networking, entertainment and education development. The findings will then be analyzed both qualitatively and empirically to determine whether cultural variables contribute to economic development.
Empirical Analysis
This method will involve incorporating societal cultural factors into an economic baseline endogenous economic growth model. It will then be analyzed using relevant data from the world values survey. This model is preferred because it incorporates both cultural and economic variables.
Qualitative Analysis
Qualitative analysis will be done in order to get in-depth information on cultural geography. Various aspects of cultural activity roles will be examined. For instance, how has cultural activities influenced the livelihood of the people in Vancouver? How has it been able to improve a country’s economy?
Conclusion
The culture of people and economic growth are two inseparable factors. Economic growth of a country has a direct relationship with the cultural elements, culture that affects production of goods and services, investment decisions, technological innovation, resource allocation, and openness to trade.
Technological innovations are achieved through education systems and institutions. Creative governance encompasses transparency in government policies and programs. This has been identified as one of the cultural factors that promote economic growth of Vancouver and the Canadian economy.
Cultural values of social and political inclusivity geared towards development have attracted investments furthering cultural diversity, development and job creation.
This has also ensured political stability, a condition that is good for development and attraction of tourists. This is because development takes place in a peaceful environment that is free from conflicts.
Diverse culture practiced in Vancouver attracts tourists from all over the world. They earn the country foreign exchange that facilitates development programs and activities. Geographical proximity of cities in Canada facilitates sharing of entrepreneur skills, knowledge, and technological skills.
These skills are necessary for economic growth. The proximity also offers a variety of cultural sites, music, and accommodation that are of high standards. More restaurants and other social places are developed to cater for the needs of the population that includes locals and foreigners.
In the process, people are employed to work in this organizations and businesses, hence improving their well being through the salaries that they receive.
Works Cited
Bradford, Neil. Why cities Matter: Policy Research Perspective for Canada. CPRN Discussion Paper, Canada: Canadian Policy Research Networks. 2002. Print.
Caves, Richard. Creative industries: Contracts between art and commerce”. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000. Print
City of Vancouver. Office of Cultural Affairs. Vancouver Art Initiative (1991-1993). Update for City Creative Task Force. 1997. Print
Flew, Terry. “Toward a Cultural Economic Geography of Creative Industries and Urban Development: Introduction to the Special Issue on Creative Industries and Urban Development”. Journal of Information Society, 26. 2010: 85-91. Print.
Granato, Jim, Ronald Inglehart and David Leblang. The Effects of Cultural Values on Economic: Aerican Journal of Political Science, 40(3). August 1996, pp.607-31
Hall, Peter. Cities in civilization: Culture, innovation and urban order. London: Phoenix Grant, 1998.Print
Hughes, Howard. “Culture and Tourism: A Framework for Further Analysis”. Managing Leisure, 7(3). 2002: 164-175. Print.
Lian, Brad. Cross-National Study of 98 Countries, 1960-1985, Economic Development and Cultural Change Journal. 46, 1 (1997) 61-77. Print
Lorenzen, Mark, and Frederiksen, Lars. “Why do Cultural Industries Cluster? Localization, Urbanization, Products and Projects. Creative cities, cultural clusters and local economic development .Denmark. 2008: 155–179. Print.
Mahroof, Muhammad Khan. Cultural Values and Economic Growth in Asia: An Empirical Analysis. International Journal of Business and Social Science. 1(2). 2010. Print
Mommaas, Hans. “Cultural Clusters and the Post-Industrial City: Towards the Remapping of Urban Cultural Policy.” Journal of Urban Studies 42(3). 2004: 507-532. Print
Kayat, Kalsom. “The Nature of Cultural Contribution of a Community- Based Homestay Program”. An International Multidisciplinary Journal of Tourism 5(2). 2010:145-159. Print
Zukin, Shack. “Postmodern Urban Landscapes: Mapping Culture and Power.” Modernity and Identity (1998): 221–224. Print
Smith Richard and Katie Warfield. The Creative City: a matter of values. Web. <http://sites.utoronto.ca/isrn/publications/WorkingPapers/Working07/Smith07_CreativeCity.pdf>