Indústrias criativas e culturais em perspectiva: desenvolvimento sustentável, fluxos de ide e distribuição territorial

Abstract

Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) have gained global prominence for combining culture, innovation, and sustainability, establishing themselves as a strategic driver of economic and social development. Simultaneously, multinational enterprises (MNEs), through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), play an ambiguous role in sustainable development, potentially generating both positive and negative externalities. Based on International Business and Legitimacy Theories, this thesis investigates how the CCI relates to sustainable development in Latin America and Brazil, considering its links with FDI and its territorial distribution. Specifically, it sought to: (1) systematize and critically analyze the scientific production on the interface between CCI and sustainability; (2) examine the moderating role of the CCI in the relationship between FDI and sustainable development in Latin American countries; and (3) map and analyze the spatial distribution of the CCI in Brazil, identifying regions and cities with the highest concentration of these activities and their evolution over time. To achieve these objectives, the thesis was structured in three articles. The first, of a qualitative nature, conducted a systematic literature review on creative innovation and sustainability, highlighting creativity as a mediating element of innovation and social inclusion. The second article adopted a quantitative approach, applying panel data models to 13 Latin American countries from 2011 to 2021. The results demonstrated that FDI, in isolation, has a negative effect on sustainability indices, but that the presence of creative innovation positively moderates this relationship, mitigating adverse impacts and strengthening legitimate corporate practices. It was also observed that higher levels of sustainability increase the attraction of FDI, confirming a bidirectional relationship, while variables such as creative exports, exchange rate, and population growth showed a positive association with investment flows. The third article mapped the Creative Economy in Brazil based on RAIS data (2014–2023), revealing significant growth in creative employment and a dual territorial dynamic: absolute concentration in large metropolitan areas and relative specialization in smaller municipalities, especially in the North and Northeast regions. The results indicate that FDI, in isolation, does not promote sustainable development, but its interaction with local creative ecosystems favors more legitimate and lasting business practices. The Creative Economy thus emerges as an institutional mediator capable of converting economic capital into social and cultural value, reinforcing territorial cohesion and sustainability. From a theoretical point of view, the thesis contributes by integrating the perspectives of international business, legitimacy, and the creative economy, proposing an explanatory model on the institutionalization of sustainability in contexts of regulatory fragility. In practical terms, the findings reinforce the need for public policies aimed at creative decentralization, strengthening regional cultural ecosystems, and incorporating cultural criteria into governance instruments and attracting FDI. In summary, the research shows that creativity and culture constitute essential institutional architectures for balancing economic growth and social sustainability in Latin America and Brazil.