Art crime and the Wealth of Nations
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss art crime including the destruction of historical sites of artistic and architectural value.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on two quotations from Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations.
Findings
Art crime involves theft by burglary, robbery, deception (frauds, fakes, forgery, bogus provenance and false attribution), and can be done through money laundering, but there is a particular sinister form of theft by means of destruction.
Originality/value
Art is a wealth of nations, and provides targets we must protect better.
Keywords
Citation
Hill, C. (2008), "Art crime and the
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited