Orange Economy: What is it and how can we live on it?

Technology is key to turning an idea into a business. In Antiquity, it made agriculture the world’s main economic activity. In today’s new production models, knowledge, tradition, skill, creativity and talent are creating the most wealth in the world.

The Orange Economy is a production model where goods and services have intellectual value because they are the product of the ideas and expertise of their creators. In other words, it refers to all business rooted in creativity, involving things like art, culture, research, science and technology. That’s why some call it the “creative economy”.

The name orange economy stems from its traditional signification as the colour of creativity. It used to centre on the industry of art and culture. But as the influence of technology grew over time, it started to involve new sectors, like telecommunications, robotics, coding and content creation, where ideas could be turned into good and services.

According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Orange Economy accounts for 3% of global gross domestic product (GDP) and 30 million jobs worldwide. Inspired by ideas, it’s known for constant innovation, singular products (not mass production) and digitalized processes.

What trades are part of the Orange Economy?

Because automating once manual processes with machines has made for an economy influenced by talent, imagination and culture, the Orange Economy is considered a booming, wealth-creating sector. Here are some ideas to consider if you want to work in the Orange Economy.

• Art. Theatre, film, painting, dance and sculpture are some types of art with growing business potential to promote the culture. Dance and theatre companies are ways of capitalizing on talent. Also, online on-demand platforms for streaming TV series, films and music are proof of how art can generate revenue and create jobs.
  
  
• Communications. Without a doubt, communication and information sector has changed considerably in recent years. Media outlets, old and new, are using digital channels and social media to share content with audiences and make money, mainly through advertising and subscription fees. Jobs like “community manager”, “influencer” and “streamer” all originated online.
  
  
• Food. Culinary arts are a prominent industry in the Orange Economy, where the tradition, skill and heritage behind food prove their ability to drive business. Gastronomy can turn a place into a tourist destination or an ingredient into an export. With apps to reserve tables, see a menu, look at dishes and give ratings and opinions, technology is playing a major role in this industry’s growth.
  
  
• Coding. As with other jobs, technology is vital to value-add goods and services. That’s why software development is such a fast-growing, key industry in the Orange Economy. The different possibilities it offers are endless, from creating a smartphone apps to market products and services to designing virtual shops in the metaverse to give customers unique experiences.
  
  
• Entrepreneurship. In particular, the Orange Economy represents an opportunity to modernize or transform sectors in need of new production models to become sustainable and eco-friendly. And creative and tech-driven entrepreneurship and innovation play an important role in addressing new needs.