Work

Museums’ Economic Performance and Directors’ Recruitment Process: An Assessment of the Recent Policy Reform of the Italian Museum Sector

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: We study the economic effects of a reform of the national museum sector, the so-called Franceschini Reform, implemented in 2015. The reform introduced a new organization of the national museum system. One of the most innovative instruments of the policy was the establishment of a different method - an international call for applications - in the selection of directors of major museums (museums of “national interest”). The article studies the effects of this new recruitment policy on museum economic performance, focusing on revenues. Using a difference-in-difference technique for the years 2014 to 2017, we show that the new recruitment policy improved the revenues of treated museums throughout Italy by a range between 17% and 26%. We also find that the characteristics of the directors (age, field of degree, and study abroad experience) play a role in explaining the increase in revenue of these Institutions. We thus find evidence of significant benefits of the policy. The new knowledge may be useful for improving museum and cultural sector management policies.

Source: Administration & Society

DOI: 10.1177/00953997231180303

Authors: Angela S. Bergantino, Mario Intini, Ada Spiru

Institution: University of Bari Aldo Moro

Language: English

Topic: Museums and Cultural Heritage

Subfield: Museology

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Universita degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme