From the article, “The Economics of Arts, Artists, and Culture- Making a Better Case” (Grantmakers in the Arts: Reader Vol 20, No. 3 Fall 2009)

In a time of economic trial, artists, who stereotypically are often the ones to be jobless, or at least struggling if not famous or “discovered” yet, are facing serious unemployment and lack of funds from the government.  She argues that the arts are just as important as other government funded systems, yet the arts community lacks a strong enough defense for it’s desire for more funds to produce both public and personal work.

The following excerpt is a reason Markusen believes why arts groups are, in fact, a more valid use of government funds…

“Compared to most other groups of workers, artists are more apt to spend what they make rapidly and on other goods and services in the local economy: ongoing training, space to work, perform, and exhibit other artists’ work.  Artists enhance product design, employee relations and marketing in many industries.  As human capital investment targets, artists are also worthy, because their creativity drives cultural industries- media, publishing, advertising, music, and tourism – that are among the most important US exporters.  If we had better evidence on these relationships, and more mezzo-economists researching them, arts proponents could make their case more easily.”