The present study focuses on one of the traditional forms of «patronized
goods» – artistic products created in the sphere of art. The paper presents the
results of the analysis of theater activities economic dynamics, including
international comparisons and empirical test based on the econometric model of
known theoretical pattern – «Baumol's disease» using three indices measuring
the productivity lag, catching up wage dynamics and outrunning growth in ticket
prices in relation to the respective parameters of macroeconomic dynamics.
Particular attention is paid to the methods of calculation of labor productivity
and wages proposed by R. Kapelyushnikov and the assessment of real
possibilities of treating «Baumol's disease» by increasing prices for theater
tickets.
Keywords: patronized goods, «disease
prices» lag productivity, revenue shortfall, Baumol indexes, model of «disease
prices».
