Economics of Art and Culture (358-CN-62)

Instructors

James A. Hornsten
847/491-8220
I'm a microeconomist interested in intellectual property, clever pricing schemes, corporate boards of directors, regulatory issues, and the myriad ways businesses compete for customers. I commute year-round from Skokie on a folding bike and always wear my helmet (while biking). Technically, I've worked as a professional actor, mover, dance instructor, book reviewer, custodian, and screen printer (but my experience in each is VERY limited). As a Northwestern graduate student, I camped out for tickets and saw the Wildcats play in the 1996 Rose Bowl. In the next year, I aspire to try a lot of new restaurants, bicycle 3000 miles, finish some dated (but still unopened) computer games, learn to juggle, watch the Vikings win the Super Bowl, and eat properly-made s'mores around a campfire while watching a good meteor shower on a clear night out in the boondocks with my wife and two sons.

Meeting Info

Technological Institute F280: Wed 6:15PM - 9:15PM

Overview of class

The course examines the application of economic analysis to the creative and performing arts, and the heritage and cultural industries, whether publicly or privately owned. It is concerned with the economic organization of the cultural sector and with the behavior of producers, consumers and governments in that sector. Topics may include performing arts (ballet, opera, Broadway, orchestra); art museums; festivals and cultural tourism; and copyright-reliant creative industries (music, film, TV shows, video games, book publishing).

Registration Requirements

Prerequisites: ECON 281, ECON 310-A, ECON 310-B.

Learning Objectives

Students should be able to apply microeconomic tools to analyze the incentives of those who produce and consume a variety of artistic products, as well as government policies that impact their decisions. E.g., what are the key economic problems faced by a painter, art gallery, collector/investor, auction house, philanthropist, or a funding organization such as the NEA?

Teaching Method

Problem sets, midterm, "final" exam on the last day of class, individual project

Class Materials (Required)

There is no required textbook, but supplementary materials (slides, articles, podcasts, videos) will be made available through Canvas.

Class Materials (Suggested)

(Recommended) Economics of Art and Culture, 3rd edition, 2023, Cambridge University Press, ISBN: 978-0521690423

Class Attributes

Face to face: In person, in campus space