Opportunities for cultural consumption: How is cultural participation in Switzerland shaped by regional cultural infrastructure?

Abstract

Research on cultural consumption has focused either on socio-structural determinants or individual motives of cultural consumption. To better explain cultural consumption, we wish to more closely illuminate the role the supply side plays. We derive the role of the supply structure from a rather simple decision theoretical model of cultural demand. In our empirical investigation, we examine the impact of regional supply on the level of cultural consumption of both high and popular culture in Switzerland. We deploy two analytic strategies. First, applying multilevel analysis, we examine what influence the availability of cultural attractions in individual cantons has on cultural participation. Additionally, a quasi-experiment was used to determine whether the construction of a new cultural institution led to a systematic change in cultural behavior. Our main finding is that the availability of cultural attractions does contribute to explain cultural consumption. Nevertheless, individual socio-structural determinants remain, overall, of greater importance.