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Economics & aesthetics; how can art economists obtain the aesthetic knowledge they need for their economic purposes?

Author

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  • Aldo SPRANZI

Abstract

The insurmountable obstacle against which economists’ attempts to confront and solve the economic problems of art – public funding as the first among many – and that has forced them to retreat after the ignominious attempt to save face by promoting art as a ‘merit good’ is the total lack of any form of aesthetic knowledge whatsoever. No one knows what the nature of art is, hence what need it satisfies, and as a consequence, the nature and dynamics of the act of consumption are unknown, as is, more generally speaking, the social function of art. Thus, art economists are not able to confront a problem of industrial efficiency. The problem seems to be unsolvable: how can the economist acquire unlimited aesthetic knowledge – because this is what it is all about – and then: how can this knowledge be used in a professional, scientific way, and in complete autonomy? In this study, a solution to the problem is put forward. Constructed thanks to an innovation brought about by Chance, it enables the economist to acquire unlimited aesthetic, pedagogic and critical tools that he/she can use professionally – not as a dilettante – and in complete autonomy, so as to be able to confront and solve the economic problems of art, which are problems in marketing and industrial economics.

Suggested Citation

  • Aldo SPRANZI, 2009. "Economics & aesthetics; how can art economists obtain the aesthetic knowledge they need for their economic purposes?," Departmental Working Papers 2009-06, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
  • Handle: RePEc:mil:wpdepa:2009-06
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Art economics; culture economics; culture industry; art marketing; cultural policies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z11 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economics of the Arts and Literature

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