Filer (1986)
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Source Details
Filer (1986) | |
Title: | The "Starving Artist"--Myth or Reality? Earnings of Artists in the United States |
Author(s): | Filer, R. K. |
Year: | 1986 |
Citation: | Filer, R. K. (1986). The “Starving Artist”--Myth or Reality? Earnings of Artists in the United States. Journal of Political Economy, 94(1), 56–75. |
Link(s): | Definitive |
Key Related Studies: | |
Discipline: | |
Linked by: | Robinson and Montgomery (2000) |
About the Data | |
Data Description: | Data focused on labor income and came from two subsamples of the US Department of Commerce. One subsample included 32450 artists which corresponded to the census 5% population sample. The second subsample was similarly built for nonartist workers and used as control group. Specifically, earned income represented a mix of rate of compensation and time worked. |
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Secondary Data Sources: | |
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Data Analysis Methods: | |
Industry(ies): | |
Country(ies): | |
Cross Country Study?: | No |
Comparative Study?: | No |
Literature review?: | No |
Government or policy study?: | No |
Time Period(s) of Collection: |
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Abstract
"With data from the 1980 census, earnings of artists are investigated. It is found that, contrary to widely held beliefs, artists do not appear to earn less than other workers of similar training and personal characteristics. Artists in 1980 are significantly younger than the general work force, probably because of the rapid growth of the artistic professions in recent years".
Main Results of the Study
Contrary to what is commonly thought, artists do not seem to earn less than other workers. In particular, although authors earn on average $750 per year less than other workers, with an average differential rate of 10%, this rate is lower if we take into account differential patterns of earning increases throughout the lifetime of artists and nonartists. Moreover, artists appear to be younger than other workers and they are less inclined to leave their art job. However, there is a consistent variation among different types of artists and artistic fields.
Policy Implications as Stated By Author
None stated.
Coverage of Study
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