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Abstract
The main focus of this study is to examine the potential impact of income inequality both between and within countries on the inscription of elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) on the relevant UNESCO lists. In this regard, the research seeks to answer the following fundamental question: What is the relationship between international income disparities, income distribution inequality within a country, and the number of ICH elements registered on UNESCO lists? A review of the relevant literature reveals that there is no study that empirically examines the direct link between the UNESCO ICH inventory and national income levels together with domestic income inequality. In this context, this research aims to bridge the fields of cultural economics and development economics. Specifically, the study aims to fill this significant gap in the literature by testing the role of macroeconomic inequality dynamics in the preservation of intangible cultural heritage and its inscription on relevant lists through the use of quantitative data. Existing empirical findings indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between economic size and the preservation of cultural heritage. Conversely, a negative and statistically significant relationship has been identified between income inequality and the official registration of cultural heritage. The findings of this study reveal that, in addition to a country’s economic capacity, the degree of equity in income distribution also acts as a structural determinant in the processes of preserving and officially registering intangible cultural heritage.
