Evaluating the tangible and intangible parameters of cultural heritage: an economic meta-analysis in a global context

Sustainable development ensures the longevity of civilization by balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity. The present study evaluates cultural heritage assets via a meta-regression analysis function transfer, in which 85 studies were examined that revealed 106 different willingness-to-pay (WTP) values in the period 1995–2022. The meta-regression methodology enables the valuation of cultural heritage—tangible and intangible—goods and services, as well as cultural values (e.g. aesthetic, spiritual, symbolic, etc.). The utilization of WTP would enable us to compare the two models (i.e., European and non-European) on how much a citizen would value cultural heritage based on non-market valuation. The results would inform policymakers about the importance of cultural heritage assets in the sustainable development agenda. The empirical findings present that the WTP for the European sample is 37.6€ and for the non-European is 60.12€. In essence, the Europeans are influenced mainly by intangible cultural assets, whereas non-Europeans are influenced by oral tradition. Overall, cultural heritage conservation necessitates for proper economic valuation through a holistic approach, in short—the valuation of both tangible and intangible cultural goods and services is imperative for sustainable development.