Author: Baumol, William J. and Bowen, William G.

Publication Year: 1975

Media Type: Book

Summary:

Abstract:

We are the only major nation on earth whose government still does so little about the nation's cultural treasure in the performing and visual arts, and it is high time we caught up. With these words a noted Senator stated clearly one of the most common arguments for government support - the argument by example. It is done elsewhere, why not here? The argument by precedent also takes another form. 'Our government came to this conclusion (that federal assistance is warranted) about shipping in 1950, about agriculture in 1862, about education even before this.'

Though these analogies may be effective in forcing us to think about the issue, they suffer from two serious shortcomings. It does not necessarily follow that because support is appropriate for some social and economic activities it is equally desirable for others. Even more important, the argument by analogy provides no evidence that government assistance to the other activities cited was justified in the first place. To remedy this deficiency a variety of beneficial side effects reputed to flow from the arts are frequently brought to our attention, consequences ranging from those which serve the noblest purposes to those which cater to the most material ends, from the enrichment of the nation's expanding leisure time to the provision of employment opportunities. (p. 42-58)

CONTENTS
Some arguments for government support.
Arguments against government support.
The market test.
The Egalitarian grounds.
The education of minors.
Public goods and the market test.
The case of mixed commodities.
The performing arts as mixed services.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Funding