The Socio-Institutional Determinants of Creative and Cultural Industries in Türkiye: An Analysis within the Framework of Florida’s 3T Model

Abstract

This study examines socio-institutional determinants of employment in Türkiye’s creative and cultural industries (CCIs) within the framework of Florida’s (2002) 3T model—technology, talent, and tolerance. The study employs a dataset covering 12 NUTS-1 regions for the period 2011–2023, and applies fixed effects, random effects, and Driscoll–Kraay robust estimators. Empirical findings indicate that internet usage and R&D expenditures which are representing the technology, show significant and positive effects on both employment and number of workplace. According to talent indicators, university graduation substantially increase CCI employment and workplace numbers, whereas high school graduation rates have no significant impact. The density of non-governmental organizations is used as a proxy for tolerance. It emerges as a strong and positive determinant for both dependent variables. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic is found to have adversely affected employment, while workplace levels have remained largely unchanged. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the development of the CCIs in Türkiye requires not only economic factors but also integrated policies that enhance digitalization, higher education, and social inclusion. In this context, strengthening digital infrastructure, supporting creative fields in higher education, and promoting inclusive cultural policies are of critical importance for enhancing Türkiye’s position in the global creative economy.