1Governments once treated the arts as a luxury, something pleasant to fund only when economic times were good.
2Recent research from several countries has shown that this view is both outdated and economically short-sighted.
3The creative industries now employ millions of people across design, film, music, publishing, and video gaming.
4In several advanced economies, the creative sector now grows faster than either manufacturing or financial services.
5A successful film, album, or video game can continue generating income for many decades after its original release.
6Creative districts also attract tourism, restaurants, and fresh investment to urban areas that were once neglected.
7Nevertheless, the rewards are unevenly spread, and far too many artists remain insecure and badly paid.
8A small handful of global platforms captures a very large share of the value that individual creators produce.
9Policymakers are now debating how best to protect creative freelancers without stifling the innovation that sustains them.
10What is abundantly clear is that creativity has become serious business, and not merely decoration for the economy.
11The nations that understand this earliest will almost certainly shape the popular culture of the coming century.