Arts & economics : Analysis & cultural policy / Bruno S. Frey

Using the economic point of view for an analysis of phenomena related to artistic activities, Arts & Economics not only challenges widely held popular views, but also offers an alternative perspective to sociological or art historic approaches. The wide range of subjects presented are of current interest and, above all, relevant for cultural policy. The issues discussed include: institutions from festivals to "superstar" museums, different means of supporting the arts, including the question whether artistic creativity is undermined by public intervention, an investigation into art as an investment, the various approaches applied when valuing our cultural properties, or why, in a comparative perspective, direct voter participation in cultural policy is not antagonistic to artistic values. (Font: Editor)

Preface -- I. Combining art and economics: 1. Economics of art: A personal survey ; 2. Art: the economic point of view -- II. Museums and performing arts: 3. For art's sake - open up the vaults ; 4. Superstar museums ; 5. Special exhibitions and festivals: culture's booming path to glory -- III. Supporting the arts: 6. How can the arts be publicly promoted? ; 7. Public support for the arts in a direct democracy ; 8. State support and creativity in the arts -- IV. Art investment and evaluation: 9. Art investment returns ; 10. Evaluating cultural property ; 11. Art fakes - what fakes? -- References -- Index of names & authors -- Subject index