On culture in America

The Spero Forum,
19 November 2007, USA

The economic numbers show that America dedicates more resources to culture than Europe, and it has more museums, movie theaters, and publishing houses per inhabitant than the culturally proud Europe.
Culture in America rests on the support given by foundations and private institutions, but also on a fundamental fact, American fiscal policy on culture is the secret of its success. While Europeans grant the government power to distribute thousands of millions among their own, Americans keep for themselves the right to finance the cultural projects they want. The public purse versus the private purse; taxation versus tax exemption. As a result, culture in America is basically popular and public, precisely because it does not come from the government.

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