Economics of Visual Art
Market Practice and Market Resistance

How can arts managers, artists, and art market observers approach the study of economics? Accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations, wide-ranging case studies, and expansive discussion resources, this interdisciplinary microeconomics primer engages with complex ? and, at turns, political ? questions of value and resourcefulness with the artist or manager as the decision-maker and the gallery, museum or studio as 'the firm'. Whitaker arms the reader with analytic and creative tools that can be used in service to economic sustainability for artists and organizations. By exploring the complexities of economics in application to art, design and creative industries, this book offers ways to approach the larger world as an art project.

Preface; Introduction; 1. Markets; 2. Cost; 3. Price; 4. Structure; 5. Failure; 6. Power; 7. Labor; 8. Property; 9. Investment; 10. Systems.

Amy Whitaker is an assistant professor in Visual Arts Administration at New York University and author of award-winning books Museum Legs and Art Thinking.