The headlines, translated.
Industry developments, policy, funding and economic changes: what happened, who it could affect and what to watch.
Culture. Markets. The real world.
Culture makes
an economy.
Exploring the economics behind entertainment, culture and global markets, with a South African perspective and an international outlook.
For artists, actors, producers and creative businesses.
By Linda Stone · Economist & researcher
REEL GDP / FIELDNOTESSA · WORLD
THE
BIG
PICTURE.
BIG
PICTURE.
CULTURE DOESN’T HAPPEN
IN A VACUUM.
NEITHER DOES BUSINESS.
IN A VACUUM.
NEITHER DOES BUSINESS.
LOOK CLOSER. THINK WIDER.EST. 2026
FILM & AUDIENCES✳TRADE & GLOBAL MARKETS✳ARTS & LIVE CULTURE✳CREATIVE BUSINESS
Find your way.
New here? Start hereFOR THE SECTOR
Understand what’s changing.
Industry developments and economic context for the people making creative work.
Read the journal FOR CURIOUS MINDSGo a little deeper.
Find useful research, official data and learning resources, with clear source links.
Browse resources FOR ORGANISATIONSBring a research question.
Explore commissioned briefs, sector research and economics communication.
Commission research01From the journal
A little context.
A different perspective.
Beyond the local market.
International audiences, cultural trade and the questions facing creative work across borders.
The industry, in context.
Film, television, streaming and entertainment economics, alongside music, festivals and cultural tourism.
Introducing The Creative Brief
What does the news
mean for your work?
The journal focuses on film, television, streaming and entertainment economics. It also covers music, festivals, cultural tourism, international trade and economic developments that affect these industries.
Meet the journal01 /
What changed?
A verified development, with its date and original source.
02 /
Who is affected, and how?
How the change affects people, businesses and markets across entertainment and culture.
03 /
What should you watch next?
The next developments to follow, with the evidence and uncertainties made clear.
03Research & international trade
Behind the thinking.
Cultural economics and international trade inform the work. Film and audiovisual markets are a particular research focus.
2026
Manuscript
Manuscript
Crossing Borders: Cultural Distance and International Visibility in South African Films
An empirical study using country-level Google Trends data to examine cultural distance and international visibility for selected South African films. Submitted to the African Journal of Cultural Economics.