Clustering Development of Creative Industries: a New Approach to Urban Regeneration? A Case Study in Shanghai, China (a Ph.D. research framework)

摘要

Over the past decade or so, creative industry, which is believed as a new point of economic growth, has been an increasingly popular topic in both academic and governmental fields. The concept of creative industries, equivalent at times with "cultural industries", "copyright industries" or "content industries", is to describe a rising industrial sector under the context of deep-seated transformation of economic domain from manufacturing-based economy to consumption-based economy (Caves, 2000; Howkins, 2001; Jayne, 2005; Scott, 2004). This new sector conveys many positive images on the revival of cities and regions, promoting economic growth, creating more job opportunities, reshaping urban image, improving social inclusion, enhancing the efficiency of land use, beautifying physical environment, preserving valuable historic heritage sites, and sustaining characteristic cultural traditions, etc. Attracted by these positive images, many developed countries and regions, such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, HKSAR, have produced and advocated development strategies of creative industries, and made encouragement of creative industries an integral part of their urban regeneration schemes (CCPR, 2003; DCMS, 1998; MICA, 2003; NOIE, 2002-2003; NZIER, 2002). The term of "urban regeneration" is widely interpreted as "the holistic process of reversing economic, social and physical decay in areas where it has reached a stage when market forces alone will not suffice" (ODPM, 2003). It involves a wide range of economic, social, and physical objectives, which moves beyond the other concept "urban renewal" (a process essentially physical change).