Survival in art occupations: The case of Brazilian state capitals

Artists’ careers, whether pursued individually or collectively, are a vulnerable occupational choice. This susceptibility translates into significant intra-occupational earnings inequality and a shorter duration of occupational stability. Factors such as precarious job linkages, freelancing, and low income contribute to discouraging individuals from pursuing a career as an artist. To a considerable extent, young artists embark on this career path with the intention of showcasing and honing their creativity, talent, and abilities. Consequently, numerous authors emphasise the prevalence of an oversupply of artists, particularly amongst the youth, juxtaposed with lower demand for art due to consumers’ income, education, and cultural preferences. To address this issue, the paper employs Kaplan-Meyer’s non-parametric survival models and Cox’s semi-parametric model, comparing artists, those engaged in science professions, and the entire occupied workforce for comparison purposes. For Cox’s model, standard control variables were established using the PNAD-Continuous, a household survey conducted between 2012 and 2022 in the capital cities of Brazilian states. The main findings reveal that the stability of art occupations in Brazil is more vulnerable when compared to occupations belonging to the group of Science Professionals and Intellectuals.