Literature contributes £50.9 million a year to the city of Edinburgh, according to a new economic impact report.
The independent study was commissioned to mark over 20 years since Scotland’s capital was named the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature.
In addition to its economic impact, the report identifies the cultural and social value of literature to the city and the ways in which Edinburgh’s unique literary heritage and thriving contemporary scene have given the city a distinctive identity.
Key findings include £19.3 million generated through publishing alone, reflecting the UK’s strongest literary cluster outside London, and £6.3 million in retail of books in specialised stores.
The report also highlights the wider role literature plays across the city, both in its international profile and in everyday life.
And the influence of Edinburgh-based authors on a global scale, contributing to literary tourism, including tours of “the favourite spots of fictional characters, or the streets of Leith depicted in Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting”.
JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series alone sell an estimated 12-15 million copies worldwide each year, for a combined total of over 600 million sales since the the boy wizard became a global publishing phenomenon in 1997.
The study also points to more than 50 million books sold by a group of contemporary Edinburgh authors including Welsh, Sir Ian Rankin, Maggie O’Farrell, Ian Banks and Kate Atkinson.
Historical authors linked to Edinburgh, including Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Walter Scott, Muriel Spark, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Burns have been responsible for an additional 90 million copies sold, the report says.
The study – commissioned by Edinburgh City of Literature Trust and carried out by BOP Consulting – aimed to measure the impact of literature in the city today.
Edinburgh, it found, is home to “a dense network” of writers, publishers, booksellers and festivals, with events and activities taking place throughout the year.
More than 50 book launches and “meet the author” events take place in the city each month, alongside a programme of literary festivals welcoming over 256,000 people annually.
The report found that 61% of visitors to the city cite culture and history as a key motivation, with literary tourism also contributing to the broader visitor economy.
Meanwhile, 59% of residents say arts and culture make a positive difference to their lives – significantly higher than the Scottish average of 47%.
Each year, Edinburgh’s public libraries welcome more than 1.6 million visits, while the city hosts more than 50 university courses in literature and
creative writing.
Alongside these strengths, the study identifies a number of external pressures affecting the sector.
It notes: “Edinburgh’s distinctive literary ecosystem defines the city, delivering significant economic, social and cultural value – but an increasingly pressurised funding landscape threatens the sustainability of these impacts at a time when they are needed most.”
Rising operating costs and challenges around ensuring participation extends beyond established audiences also pose challenges.
It also warns that “with increasingly unaffordable rents and living costs, writers and creatives are being priced out of the city”.
In response, Edinburgh City of Literature Trust is developing a programme of activities to strengthen connections across the sector, broaden participation and improve access to literary opportunities.
It is also co-chairing a new steering group with the city’s Lord Provost to build a long-term strategic plan for the City of Literature.
Dr Harriet MacMillan, Director of Edinburgh City of Literature Trust, said: “Literature is fundamental to Edinburgh. It is not a ‘nice to have’ – it is central to how we understand, imagine and shape our city.
“We are fortunate to have extraordinary cultural assets, and we should celebrate our thriving, vibrant literary ecosystem – but we cannot take it for granted.
“There are real challenges ahead; meeting those challenges will require greater investment and stronger collaboration across the sector.
“Since becoming the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004, we have led internationally – but leadership demands that we keep evolving.
“Our focus now must be on expanding opportunity and ensuring that literature is not only protected, but experienced and enjoyed by everyone who lives, works in, and visits Edinburgh.”
UNESCO designated Edinburgh as its first City of Literature in 2004 to bestow international recognition on the city as a centre of literary excellence. There are now more than 60 UNESCO Cities of Literature around the world.
