I Recommend that He Read Tyler Cowen on Commercial Culture
20 August 2006
The Editor, New York Times Magazine
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
Jonathan Ceniceroz writes of Rochas clothing-designer Olivier Theyskens that his "somewhat worried and tortured gaze is emblematic of all those who envision and create fine art amid the behemoth of the corporate complex" (Letters, August 20). Boo hoo.
Rochas' corporate owners - first Wella, and then Procter & Gamble - enabled Mr. Theyskens for the past five years to enjoy substantial financial backing for his designs. Unfortunately, Mr. Theyskens' design group has consistently lost money. Does Mr. Ceniceroz believe that P&G should keep Rochas afloat simply to let Mr. Theyskens "follow, completely, his muse"? More generally, would P&G be a better corporate citizen if it kept subsidizing a money-losing clothing line that is affordable only by the hyper-rich?
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
The Editor, New York Times Magazine
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
Jonathan Ceniceroz writes of Rochas clothing-designer Olivier Theyskens that his "somewhat worried and tortured gaze is emblematic of all those who envision and create fine art amid the behemoth of the corporate complex" (Letters, August 20). Boo hoo.
Rochas' corporate owners - first Wella, and then Procter & Gamble - enabled Mr. Theyskens for the past five years to enjoy substantial financial backing for his designs. Unfortunately, Mr. Theyskens' design group has consistently lost money. Does Mr. Ceniceroz believe that P&G should keep Rochas afloat simply to let Mr. Theyskens "follow, completely, his muse"? More generally, would P&G be a better corporate citizen if it kept subsidizing a money-losing clothing line that is affordable only by the hyper-rich?
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Tuesday May 8, 2007 at 1:03pm