Cultural economics & international trade

The questions
behind the work.

Research on cultural economics, international trade, technology and economic change — with a particular focus on South African films and international audiences.

01Research record

Selected work.

Completed work, manuscripts and ongoing research are labelled separately.

2026
Manuscript

Crossing Borders: Cultural Distance and International Visibility in South African Films

An empirical study using country-level Google Trends data to examine cultural distance and international visibility for selected South African films. Submitted to the African Journal of Cultural Economics.

Under review
Ongoing
Doctoral research

Cultural distance and the global trade performance of South African audiovisual products

Ongoing research into cultural distance, international trade and the international performance of South African audiovisual products, using films as the empirical focus. Undertaken as part of a PhD in Economics at Rhodes University.

In progress
2021
Master’s dissertation

South Africa’s Headwinds Going into the Fourth Industrial Revolution

MCom in Economics, University of South Africa. Research on technology and economic change.

View repository record
Completed

Public records and full texts are linked where available. Contact Linda to discuss the research or request a manuscript where sharing is permitted.

Ask about the research

02Conferences & activities

Ideas in conversation.

2026

CoRE Annual Conference: Creative Economies in Africa

King’s College London

Presented Crossing Borders: Cultural Distance and the International Visibility of South African Films.

2025

South African Cultural Observatory Conference

South Africa

Presented empirical research on cultural distance and audience interest in South African films using Google Trends data.