The second UNCTAD Creative Economy Outlook and Country Profile report (2018) demonstrates not only that there has been significant growth in
the creative economy but also that the sector can make a valuable contribution to the achievement of sustainable development goals.

Despite the difficult years during and post the 2008 financial crisis, the creative economy has been robust, demonstrating resilience and in
some instances growth, indicating it is a sector with considerable potential for current and future investment.

Following UNCTAD’s first Creative Economy Outlook report in 2015, the long-term review of the trade of creative goods and services offered by this report provides a valuable update and snapshot of past and present trends in the global creative economy. It also highlights some metatrends, many of which are already shaping the future of creative industries.