Orange Economy: definition and measurement – the case of Jordan

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cultural and creative industries, also known as the Orange Economy, are characterized by both cultural and commercial value and considered as an important engine for economic growth and employment. Notwithstanding the increasing attention by policy makers worldwide, statistics relating to their economic contribution are still lacking and/or outdated. This study aims to provide an operational definition of the Orange Economy and suggest a pragmatic approach for estimating its direct economic impact, based on the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC-4). Applying this methodology to the case of Jordan for the period 2011–2018, it emerges that the Orange Economy has been almost duplicating its value added creation since 2011, to reach 2.4% of GDP in 2018. Further estimations reveal that, in 2018, the Orange Economy employed 3% of the workforce, profiling itself as labor intensive, and therefore, as a potential driver of employment.