The Influence Of Cultural Distance On The Export Of Cultural And Creative Products

The world economy is experiencing a profound and constant change,and countries are gradually interdependent on each other in foreign trade.With knowledge economy developing fast,countries,while blazing trials for international trade,have been attracted by cultural creative industry,which is the outcome of multiple industries and sectors,contented by culture and cored by creative mindsets and intellectual properties.As the major exports of the industry,cultural and creative products are featured as high-added-value,high-tech,lower-energy,green and recyclable.The industry has ceaselessly injected new impetus into the Chinese economic development during the “New Normal” period,while being the driving player in adjusting economic structure and upgrading the industries.By 2015,China's exports of cultural and creative products sum up to 168.507 billion USD with the annual growth rate of 13.17%,proving its key role by taking up 1/3 of the world's total.Meanwhile,as a pivotal factor influencing exports of cultural and creative products,cultural distance has gained greater position under the new characterized circumstance.This article conducted bi-directional discussions and analysis with data on China's export to20 trade partners from 2003 to 2015,be they countries or regions.Current status was first analyzed.After researching on collected works at home and abroad,the paper thoroughly analyzed trade scale,commodity structure,grand map and competitiveness of cultural and creative products.During the process,quantitative indicators of MS and RCA were used,demonstrating the imbalances of export structure and international layout during export process.Then came the empirical research.This paper took the angle of cultural distance and applied the gravity model in testifying the influence of cultural dimension distance at a whole and separately(the Hofestede 5 cultural dimensions)on China's export of cultural and creative products.Conclusions were drawn that total cultural dimension distance undermined the export industry while separately they had varied influences.We could also see that exporting preferred countries and regions with better economy,higher GDP,nearby location and interlinked language and culture.Through both methods,the paper suggested methods including policy making,pattern optimization,branding and creating new industry chains on addressing current export status of China's cultural and creative products as well as utilizing cultural distance to further promote the industry development.