Don Thompson Books
Don Thompson is an economist and professor of marketing and economics at the Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto. He is known for his research and writing on the economics of art and the global art market.
Known for: The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art
Books by Don Thompson
The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art
This book explores the economics and psychology behind the contemporary art market, examining how artworks by living artists can command extraordinary prices. Don Thompson investigates the roles of collectors, dealers, auction houses, and branding in shaping the value of art, offering insights into the mechanisms that drive the high-end art world.
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How Art Prices Are Formed
The price of an artwork is never determined by its intrinsic beauty. You may stand in front of a painting moved or puzzled, but long before you react, the market has already assigned its value. In the art world, price serves as a language—it is a signal, not a truth. Scarcity forms the first layer o...
From The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art
The Role of Auction Houses
Names like Sotheby’s and Christie’s stand as power centers of the art market. Auction houses are far more than venues for exchange—they manufacture value. Through carefully orchestrated sales events, they transform artworks into dreamlike investment opportunities. From reserve prices and bidding str...
From The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art
About Don Thompson
Don Thompson is an economist and professor of marketing and economics at the Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto. He is known for his research and writing on the economics of art and the global art market.
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Don Thompson is an economist and professor of marketing and economics at the Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto. He is known for his research and writing on the economics of art and the global art market.
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