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The Value of Nothing: Reconciling Cultural Capital in Society

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Abstract

It is not yet fully understood why some places find it so much harder to put themselves on the map than others. In this case, Beverwijk, a regional town in the Netherlands, works hard to provide all of the basic services, but still has a nondescript reputation. A review of the existing literature will show that the centre of town as a marketplace of economic, human, social, cultural and natural capital is pivotal in the reputation of places. Furthermore, interviews with people living and working in or visiting Beverwijk have revealed that sociability and the aesthetics of cultural heritage generate associations which help us to recognise places and evoke the diffusion of values. This study suggests that places which focus primarily on functionality, instead of taking an integrative and normative approach around multiple capitals, have trouble gaining distinction from other places.

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Acknowledgements

I am immensely grateful to Prof. Dr. Joep P. Cornelissen for his guidance during my research, although any errors are my own and should not tarnish the reputation of this esteemed scholar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CEO Centrum voor de Kunsten Beverwijk, Beverwijk, The Netherlands

    Debora E. Vollebregt

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  1. Debora E. Vollebregt
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Correspondence to Debora E. Vollebregt.

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Vollebregt, D.E. The Value of Nothing: Reconciling Cultural Capital in Society. Corp Reputation Rev 21, 139–152 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41299-018-0049-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41299-018-0049-4

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