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Art Costs and Subsidies: The Case of Norwegian Performing Arts

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Cultural Economics

Abstract

The primary purpose of this paper is to explore the application of statistical cost estimation procedures to performing arts companies. In this regard, the paper reflects the contributions of Globerman and Book (1974) and Lange et al. (1984). In this particular case, the performing companies are the state-supported theaters in Norway. This sample of companies was selected for two reasons: (1) the data on cost and output are relatively complete and consistent over time; and (2) the results of such cost estimation can be of special importance to decision makers in a nation such as Norway, which has chosen to subsidize the performing arts. In this latter regard, the question of optimum — i.e., least cost — level of output may have implications for the number of theaters to be supported.

The author is deeply indebted to Anne-Marie Fetveit of the Norsk Kulturråd for her assistance in securing the necessary data, and to numerous policy makers and analysts for generously sharing their time and insights as this projects progressed. This research was supported in part by a grant from the Faculty Development Program of the College of St. Thomas.

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Gray, C.M. (1992). Art Costs and Subsidies: The Case of Norwegian Performing Arts. In: Towse, R., Khakee, A. (eds) Cultural Economics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77328-0_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77328-0_26

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-77330-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-77328-0

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