The document summarizes research on the transformation of the post-industrial city of Barakaldo in the Basque Country into a cultural city and its experience with two economic crises. It hypothesizes that municipal investment in culture generates better living standards and proposes a methodology to measure the regional economic context and social impact of the cultural model. Correlation analysis found positive links between culture spending and education, employment, debt levels, and quality of life indicators, supporting the idea that regular cultural investment improves citizen welfare. Upcoming studies aim to further demonstrate culture's positive influence on quality of life regardless of the economic model.

1. The Transformation of a Post Fordist City
Into a Cultural One Suffering Two Crisis
The Case of Barakaldo (Basque Country)
INNOVA 2015
alvaro.fierro@urbegi.com
Barakaldo (Tierras de Imaginario)

2. 1 hypothesis; 2 proposal
1. Hypothesis: the municipal investment in culture generates better living standards.
2. Proposal:
○ A methodology and indicators to measure the regional economic context.
○ An empirical approach to measure the social impact of a model in transition.

3. Literature Review (I)
● A symbol of contemporary urban transformation.
● Cultural icon--> 70 million $; returns more than 300 million $.
● Around the museum--> new cultural projects, new networks, new knowledge, better image of the city.
Puppy: the guardian of the The Post Fordist
economy10 km from Bilbao

4. Literature Review (II)
● After the industrial crisis and in the aftermath of the financial crisis, Barakaldo has opted for a change of
economic model oriented to culture and services, understanding that festivals and cultural activities are a
fundamental economic and social dimension, stimulating the creation, enrich our leisure time and improve the
welfare of people.
Barakaldo
Before/After

5. Methodology & goals
Evaluate
regional
context
Upcoming
studies
112 towns in
the province InterpretationPCA
Correlations
cross section model
proxy
indicators
Evaluate the
social impact
of culture
Structural indicators
% cultura Vs. %
Total

6. Methodology & goals (I)
Evaluate
regional
context
Upcoming
studies
112 towns in
the province InterpretationPCA
Correlations
cross section model
proxy
indicators
Evaluate the
social impact
of culture
Structural indicators
% cultura Vs. %
Total

7. ● Gross Value Added Agriculture (%)
● GVA Industry (%)
● GVA Construction (%)
● GVA Services (%)
● Cars per capita (%)
● Gas by Pipeline/ home (%)
● Comfort Housing Index (%)
● Average Family Income (€)
proxy Indicators: Analyzing regional context
sources: Eustat/ Udalmap
Welfare Indicators
Economic Indicators

8. Lorem ipsum Dolor sit amet
Resultados
Software: SPAD
source: Eustat

9. Methodology & goals (II)
Evaluate
regional
context
Upcoming
studies
112 towns in
the province InterpretationPCA
Correlations
cross section model
proxy
indicators
Evaluate the
social impact
of culture
Structural indicators
% cultura Vs. %
Total

10. ● Series: 2004-2015 (available) Model in transition
● Ratio: culture/ total
● Correlations
sources: Eustat/ Udalmap source: barakaldo.org
Methodology: Evaluate the social impact of culture
Tierras de Imaginario

11. • Population rate with professional studies: 0.97
• Rate of population with secondary education: 0.92
• Rate of population with university education: 0.93
• Affiliation to Social Security by municipality of residence: 0.87
• Foreign population/ Men: 0.74
• Public Access Libraries: 0.47
• City Debt per capita: -0.63
• Sector services to the total (%): 0.43
• Population contracted during the year (‰ inhabitants): 0.32
• Rate of creation of new establishments (‰ inhabitants): 0.29
• Administration investment per inhabitant (€): 0.72
• Unemployed registered at INEM Men (% men aged 16 to 64). -0.17
• Unemployed women registered in the INEM (% women aged 16 to 64): -0.12
Indicators
Correlations
highlights: annual series 2004-2015

12. Methodology & goals (III)
Evaluate
regional
context
Upcoming
studies
112 towns in
the province InterpretationPCA
Correlations
cross section model
proxy
indicators
Evaluate the
social impact
of culture
Structural indicators
% cultura Vs. %
Total

13. Ŷi=ß0+ß1X1+ß2X2+ß3X3+ß4X4+μ
Ŷ: % culture/ total 112 towns
X1: crime rate
X2: higher education rate
X3: gender- equality
X4: debt per capita
μ: error term
Upcoming Studies: cross section model

14. 1. There is a positive correlation between the investment in culture and social indicators- education, women's
employment, integration of immigrants, etc.-.
2. Administration debt per capita: a greater investment in culture, less municipal debt per capita.
3. These results approach to us the conclusion that a regular investment by the local administration in culture is
improving the quality of life of the citizens.
4. With this estimations, the municipal technicians of the ​​Culture area have more arguments to defend the annual
budgets in a period characterized by economy cuts.
● Future issues→ whatever the economic model, will demonstrate that the local government investment in culture
have a positive influence on the quality of life.
”
Conclusions
”

15. Thanks!
11/12/2015
Barcelona