This guide to the state of the art in cultural economics explores the necessity for careful definition and measurement of the "cultural sector". It also offers examples of how economic analysis can shed light on the motivation of creative and performing artists and of artistic enterprises.

This text offers a guide to the state of the art in cultural economics. Firstly, it alerts scholars and students to the necessity for careful definition and measurement of the "cultural sector". Secondly, it affords examples of how economic analysis can shed light on the motivation of creative and performing artists and of artistic enterprises. Thirdly, this book widens the discussion of public policy towards the arts beyond general economic appraisal of arguments for government financial support. It does so by considering the government's role in defining property rights in artistic products and in regulating, as well as financing, the arts, examining how the criteria for government support are actually applied. The book should be of interest to economists, students and policy-makers.

Section I: Definitions and Measurement. 1. Art: the Economic Point of View
B. Frey. 2. The Arts Industry: Problems of Measurement
G. Brosio. 3. The Funding Process in a Comparative Perspective: Some Methodological Issues
M. Trimarchi. Section II: Analytical Issues. 4. A Microeconomic Analysis of Patronage and Sponsorship
I. Mazza. 5. Imperfect Information and Cultural Goods: Producers' and Consumers' Inertia
G. Pignataro. 6. A Work-Preference Model of Artist Behaviour
D. Throsby. 7. The Economic Dilemma of Heritage Preservation
G. Mossetto. Section III: Policy Issues. 8. Justice, Efficiency and Copyright in Cultural Goods
P. Burrows. 9. Rights Allocation in the Contemporary Art Market: Copyright, "Droit de suite", Right to Exhibit
W. Santagata. 10. Regulation in the Cultural Sector
E. Giardina, I. Rizzo. 11. Achieving Public Policy Objectives in the Arts and Heritage
R. Towse. 12. The Design and Operation of Public Funding of the Arts: an Economist's View
A. Peacock.