Profile of five sectors of creative industries in the Republic of Moldova: socio-economic structure and territorial distribution in national and international context

Abstract

Creative industries represent one of the most dynamic sectors of the contemporary economy and an important topic in the international literature. In the Republic of Moldova, empirical research on their structure and characteristics still remains limited. This exploratory study aims to outline the socio-economic and territorial profile of five local sectors of the creative industries (Games; Design; Performing Arts; Audiovisual; IT creative technology), based on the analysis of 889 enterprises identified in the CreativeSquare database. The research investigates the gender distribution of founders and administrators, territorial concentration, the enterprise structure by size, form of ownership and economic performance, by comparison with both the national economy and the trends highlighted in the literature. The results indicate comparatively low female representation; a high territorial concentration of creative activities in the Chisinau municipality; the predominance of private microenterprises and significant differences in profitability. The research contributes to knowledge on creative industries in the Republic of Moldova and provides an empirical basis for understanding their entrepreneurial characteristics. The results can support the development of measures adapted to the specific needs of creative sectors. The study also represents the first stage of a systematic mapping of the creative industries in the Republic of Moldova.