This title draws conclusions on the strengths and limitations of applied economics in the field of heritage. Sicily provides a backdrop for the study, demonstrating the economic complexities of heritage and the range of economic tools and concepts which can be employed to analyse it.

Based on the assupmtion that without understanding institutions, economists cannot make satisfactory policy prescriptions, this title draws conclusions on the strengths and limitations of applied economics in the field of heritage. Sicily provides an interesting backdrop against which the study is set, demonstrating the economic complexities of heritage and the range of economic tools and concepts which can be employed to analyse it. The book is a compilation of various approaches that economists trained in different branches of economics have brought to bear on heritage. It considers the political economy of heritage policy from a variety of perpesctives. It also discusses the public choice of fiscal federalism and looks at the problems of assessing the efficiency of policy measures. Finally it provides an overview of the national experiences in France, Scotland and Italy in terms of heritage policy.

Institutions: the cultural economy of the heritage, Ruth Towse
the organization and finance of cultural heritage in Sicily, Anna Mignosa
heritage conservation - the role of heritage authorities, Ilde Rizzo
organization and decision-making in the heritage sector in Sicily, Isidoro Mazza. Supply of the the heritage: measuring the efficiency of museums - a case study in Sicily, Giacomo Pignataro
heritage and tourism, Giovanni Monemagno
the role of non-profit organizations in finance of the heritage, Salvo Creaco
new technologies and the heritage, Maria Musumeci. Demand for the heritage: methods of measuring demand for the arts and heritage - theoretical issues, Tiziana Cuccia, Giovanni Signorello
a contingent valuation study of willingness to pay for heritage visits - the case study of Noto, Tiziana Cuccia, Giovanni Signorello
organized art consumption, Maurizio Caserta. Compartative perspectives: constrained choice and heritage designation - its application in France, Francoise Benhamou
funding the heritage - the Scottish experience, Gerald Elliot
heritage administration in Italy - problems and progress, Annalisa Cicerchia.