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THE FRAMEWORK

Cultural Asset
Economics

A research framework for understanding why certain assets, brands, families, places, and ownership systems endure — and why others break.

What Is Cultural Asset Economics?

Cultural Asset Economics is a framework for analyzing assets, companies, brands, families, places, and ownership systems whose value depends on durability, legitimacy, scarcity, governance, and cultural relevance over time.

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It is designed for situations where standard market commentary misses the real question: can the asset survive ownership change, succession, liquidity pressure, institutional stress, and cultural shifts?

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What CAE Studies?

CAE studies assets where value is not only financial, but structural and cultural.


This includes family businesses, collectibles, art, cultural infrastructure, alternative assets, public companies, luxury brands, real estate, heritage estates, and sovereign or place-based systems.


The goal is not to create a single score or price target. The goal is to understand durability, transferability, governance, and the conditions under which an asset can keep its relevance across cycles.

THE FIVE LENSES

Five Lenses on Asset Durability and Continuity

Each lens examines a different dimension of long-term resilience.

CADI

Cultural Asset Durability Index

How durable is the asset’s cultural relevance, scarcity, and institutional position?

OFI

Ownership Friction Index

How difficult is it to transfer, govern, finance, or restructure ownership?

GTRI

Generational Transfer Risk Index

​How exposed is the asset to succession, founder dependence, heir conflict, or institutional memory loss?

EOI

Exit Optionality Index

How many realistic exit paths exist without damaging the asset’s value or identity?

CYI

Cultural Yield Index

How much non-financial value does the asset generate through recognition, legitimacy, access, identity, or influence?

Explore the CAE Case Library

See the framework applied to cultural assets, alternative assets, estates, brands, public companies, and ownership systems.

© 2026 Mitt Chen. All rights reserved. The Vault and Cultural Asset Economics research are provided for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, tax, or financial advice. Past performance and case studies are not indicative of future results. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment or ownership decisions.

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