Abstract
Much past research on the nature of demand for recreation or cultural activities has been either economic models based on unrealistic assumptions about willingness-to-pay or sociological models that fail to provide an in-depth analysis of the forces actually affecting the decision to participate. This paper presents an attempt to combine some of the strengths of the traditional economic and sociological methods, while avoiding some of their weaknesses. The method developed produces an index called a "cultural elasticity" that quantitatively indicates how rates of participation maw be expected to change when certain economic and sociological characteristics in the population change. A numerical example is provided using a recent Canadian national survey on performing arts audiences. Strengths and limitations in the approach are also identified.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Stephen L. J. and Smale, Bryan J. A.
(1982)
"The Changing Demand for Culture: Estimation of "Cultural Elasticities","
Visions in Leisure and Business: Vol. 1:
No.
2, Article 9.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/visions/vol1/iss2/9