The role and future of the arts is the subject of widespread discussion in the media, in government, at conferences and at public enquiries. In the Economics of the performing Arts David Throsby and Glenn Withers provide an authoritative examination of the role of economics in understanding the performing arts and upon arts organisations, their audiences and their patrons. The nature of public support is exstensively reveiwed and the book draws upon the experience of all the major Anglo-American countries. By combining relevance with a rigorous academic scrutiny, the book makes an important contribution to informed debate on the economic underpinnings of artistic activity.

The economics of the Arts is a new field with a small but rapidly-growing literature, which has emerged in recent years out of the eagerness of economists to apply their techniques to hitherto untried areas and the recognition by Arts administrators of the rapidly increasing economic pressures on the Arts. This book of readings is the first of its kind. Of the 16 articles, 8 are directly concerned with the Arts in America; the other 8 deal with the British scene. What can economics say about so non-economic a subject as the Arts? Obviously, finance for the Arts involves economic considerations. But in addition, economics provides, among other things, a logic of rational choice, and the economists' style of thinking, therefore, is adaptable to any problem of choice in respect of any set of goals, whether they be economic goals or not. Then, there is the question of whether economics can provide a case for public support for the Arts, that is, whether the State should subsidize the Arts. This is a familiar problem in the economics of welfare but its application to the Arts raises novel questions and even economists are not agreed on whether economics can provide such a rationale. Also, there is the question of criteria for public expenditure on the Arts, assuming that the case for some public expenditure has been made. Can economists tell us how much the State should spend on the Arts? Surely, they can help us with a host of other questions: should museums and galleries charge fees; should museums ever sell off parts of their collections; can the Arts economize on their expenditures; how can modern music be most effectively encouraged by public funds; are ticket prices an important element in the demand for the Arts; and does the low pay of artists discourage individuals from taking up artistic occupations?

This book studies the relationship between the arts and the economy. By applying economic thinking to arts and culture, it analyses markets for art and cultural goods, highlights specific facets of art auctions and discusses determinants of the economic success of artists. The author also sheds new light on various cultural areas, such as the performing and visual arts, festivals, films, museums and cultural heritage. Lastly, the book discusses cultural policies, the role of the state in financing culture, and the relationship between the arts and happiness.

This volume emphasizes the economic aspects of art and culture, a relatively new field that poses inherent problems for economics, with its quantitative concepts and tools. Building bridges across disciplines such as management, art history, art philosophy, sociology, and law, editors Victor Ginsburgh and David Throsby assemble chapters that yield new perspectives on the supply and demand for artistic services, the contribution of the arts sector to the economy, and the roles that public policies play. With its focus on culture rather than the arts, Ginsburgh and Throsby bring new clarity and definition to this rapidly growing area. - Presents coherent summaries of major research in art and culture, a field that is inherently difficult to characterize with finance tools and concepts - Offers a rigorous description that avoids common problems associated with art and culture scholarship - Makes details about the economics of art and culture accessible to scholars in fields outside economics

Designed for courses covering the economics of the arts and arts management, this textbook introduces the economic tools and theories needed for collecting and analysing data in preparation for successful careers in the cultural or public sectors. The extensive use of real-world data makes the book an invaluable resource.