Social Inequality and the Arts

Inferences from the historical literature on art are tested in a quantitative comparison of the 125 largest American metropolitan places. Art is measured by the proportion in artistic occupations, whether they involve classical, popular, or commercial art. Economic inequality apparently promotes art, but perhaps no longer primarily through patronage but rather throung the need for affluence to consume art and, particularly, through the diverse demand for art engendered by great differences in economic class. Inequality in education, however, is inversely related to the number of artists, which suggest that art flourishes in cities where most people are well educated and have cultural orientations that, though diverse, compose fairly large taste subcultures. This interpretation is supported by the finding that the existence of large occupational groups in a metropolis is positively related to artistic activities. Inequality in overall social status (SEI) encourages performing but discourages nonperforming arts, probably because performing artists have to be located where affluent audiences can support operas and rock concerts and other performing institutions, whereas othe artists do not.