Determining Heterogeneous Behaviour through ZINB Models: Differences on Theater Participation

Abstract

We study the determinants on the demand of cultural goods using two different approaches. Starting by a simple analytical model that deals with the optimal demand of cultural goods for a consumer that lives two periods, we investigate the relevance of cultural capital on taste formation. Some testable hypothesis on the effects of the parameters of the models are derived. Further, in a companion paper we perform some analysis on temporal paths and on the effect of cultural policy measures. We then propose and estimate a model on theater participation using the data contained on the 2002 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts from the USA. By using a Zero Inflated Negative Binomial Model, we can characterize two distinct behaviours for the observable demand.