Deloitte's comprehensive report, The Future of the Creative Economy, explores the growing impact of the creative industries on global economies. Covering nine major economies including Turkey, Germany, the UK, Japan, and South Korea, the study highlights that nearly 20 million people were employed in the creative economy as of 2018 — making up approximately 7% of total employment in these countries. According to the report, the creative economy plays a critical role not only in economic growth but also in addressing social and cultural needs. As economies recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, creative industries are expected to return to strong growth, driven by increasing consumer demand for creative goods and services. By 2030, employment in the creative economy is projected to rise by over 40%, adding more than 8 million jobs across the studied countries. From design and architecture to film, gaming, and publishing, the creative economy is shaping the future of work, culture, and innovation. The report underlines the importance of public policies, investment, and cross-sector collaborations to ensure sustainable growth and global competitiveness in this vital sector.

Led by Sir Peter Bazalgette, this independent review highlights the vital role of the creative industries in driving the UK’s economic growth, global competitiveness, and innovation. Covering sectors such as design, software, music, visual arts, and publishing, the report emphasizes the need to invest in creative clusters, support R&D activities, strengthen intellectual property strategies, and develop talent pipelines to secure sustainable growth. With a focus on regional development, innovation, and internationalization, the review presents actionable recommendations for both government and industry, aiming to unlock the full potential of the creative economy and ensure its long-term global leadership.

Prepared by the British Council, this comprehensive report explores the rapid growth and transformation of the global creative economy. It highlights how creative industries—ranging from design, film, music, and publishing to innovative technology and digital services—are becoming essential drivers of economic development, cultural identity, and social change worldwide. The report examines key trends such as new business models, the role of intellectual property, the rise of creative clusters, and the urgent need for creative education and skills development. With case studies from Brazil, Estonia, and India, it provides insights into how local creativity fuels global impact, and how the fusion of culture, technology, and entrepreneurship is shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economy for the future.

Published by the British Council and authored by BOP Consulting, Mapping the Creative Industries: A Toolkit serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding and evaluating the creative industries within local, national, and global economies. It provides a practical seven-step methodology for conducting successful mapping exercises, aiming to highlight the economic and cultural value of creative sectors. The toolkit explains why mapping is essential—not only to raise awareness and influence policy but also to support growth, innovation, and urban regeneration. By offering insights on defining creative industries, setting research approaches, and engaging stakeholders, it helps policymakers, researchers, and practitioners unlock the potential of creative economies. Originally developed through the UK’s experience, the toolkit has inspired mapping practices worldwide, contributing to global knowledge on creative economies as drivers of sustainable development and cultural identity.

The Creative Hubs Report 2016 provides an in-depth analysis of the role and value of creative hubs within the growing creative economy. Creative hubs are dynamic spaces—physical or virtual—where creative professionals, freelancers, and micro-enterprises come together to collaborate, innovate, and grow. These hubs serve as vital community connectors, supporting cultural production, talent development, and local economic regeneration. The report highlights that successful creative hubs go beyond providing shared workspaces. They cultivate trust-based networks, foster multidisciplinary projects, and deliver wide-ranging impacts—from new business ventures and job creation to urban revitalization and enhanced quality of life. Drawing from extensive UK case studies, the research offers insights and tools to support creative hubs globally, emphasizing that each hub should be shaped by its local context, values, and community needs.

The Design Economy report explores the remarkable impact of design on the UK's economy, society, and global competitiveness. Beyond aesthetics, design is positioned as a strategic force that drives productivity, innovation, and growth across industries. According to the report, the design economy contributed £71.7 billion in GVA to the UK in 2013, supporting 1.6 million jobs and accounting for 7.3% of total exports. While London remains a key hub, the report emphasizes the growing importance of regional design clusters and highlights the urgent need to foster inclusivity, particularly in increasing gender diversity within the sector. With a focus on expanding design’s role in underrepresented industries and ensuring the UK maintains its global leadership, The Design Economy makes a compelling case for investing in design as a catalyst for sustainable development and economic resilience.

Prepared by Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC), this report examines the critical challenges creative businesses in the UK face when accessing the finance needed to grow and scale. Despite the creative industries’ contribution to innovation and economic growth, many businesses—particularly outside of London—struggle with investment gaps and limited funding opportunities. The report highlights the need for tailored financial solutions, stronger regional support, and improved investor understanding of the creative sector’s unique value. By developing new funding models and supporting investment readiness, the creative industries can unlock their full potential and continue driving sustainable economic growth and cultural impact.

Prepared by Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC), this report explores how creative clusters in the UK can grow in a way that is both sustainable and inclusive. While creative industries play a vital role in regional development and innovation, ensuring equal access to opportunities for underrepresented communities remains a challenge. Through case studies like the Yorkshire Screen Cluster, the report highlights the importance of embedding diversity, equality, and inclusion into the heart of creative cluster strategies. By fostering local collaboration, improving access to skills and jobs, and sharing best practices, creative clusters can deliver long-term, inclusive growth that benefits both people and places.

Prepared by Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) in collaboration with researchers from the University of Sheffield, this report explores the need for advanced and regionally detailed economic statistics on the UK’s creative industries (CIs), which contributed £124.6 billion to the UK economy in 2022. While creative sectors play a growing role in boosting innovation and regional development, current national statistics lack the depth to reflect regional differences and interconnections. To address this, the report proposes the development of Multi-Regional Creative Industries Satellite Accounts (MR-CISA). These accounts would provide detailed insights into the economic contribution, supply chains, and regional spillover effects of the CIs. MR-CISA would help policymakers assess the local and national impact of investments, better understand income flows between regions, and support informed decision-making for regional growth and resilience. The report reviews international examples, identifies required data sources, and outlines next steps, including the creation of regional creative accounts and improved data collection through targeted surveys. By advancing MR-CISA, the UK can enhance its ability to support creative clusters, evaluate policy impacts, and prepare for future economic challenges in the sector.

This publication was prepared by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, under the Creative Europe Programme (2021–2027). The Creative Europe Programme (2021–2027) aims to support Europe's cultural and creative sectors by fostering cross-border cooperation, promoting cultural diversity, and increasing the competitiveness and resilience of the sectors. With a 50% larger budget compared to the previous period, the programme focuses on adapting to digital transformation, environmental sustainability, and inclusion. It is structured under three main strands: Culture, Media, and Cross-Sectoral, each addressing specific needs from artist mobility to audiovisual content development, while also supporting innovation, media freedom, and European cultural heritage.

This report was prepared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Creative Economy Outlook 2022 highlights the growing importance of the creative economy as a driver of sustainable development, economic growth, and social inclusion worldwide. Emphasizing the sector’s contribution to global GDP, employment, and international trade, the report also reflects on the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in developing countries. It underscores the need for stronger data collection, policy development, digital infrastructure, and skills training to harness the full potential of creative industries. With a focus on innovation, trade, and inclusivity, the report offers recommendations to support resilient and dynamic creative economies globally.

This report was prepared by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Titled Advancing the Measurement of the Creative Economy: A Revised Framework for Creative Industries and Trade, this 2024 publication aims to update and improve the global framework for measuring the creative economy. Recognizing the sector's growing importance—especially in developing countries—UNCTAD introduces new classifications to better capture the economic contribution of creative industries and trade in creative goods and services. By aligning international standards with recent trends like digitalization and evolving creative sectors, the report provides a valuable tool for policymakers and national statistical offices to support evidence-based strategies and strengthen the creative economy worldwide.