Graffiti A Legal and strongEconomicstrong Analysis.pdfVIP

A Legal and Economic Analysis of Graffiti1 by Daniel J. D’Amico Economics Department George Mason University Fairfax, VA 22030 (561) 870-5941 ddamico@ / and Walter Block Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics College of Business Administration Loyola University New Orleans 6363 St. Charles Avenue, Box 15, Miller 321 New Orleans, LA 70118 c.v.: /faculty.html office: (504) 864-7934 dept: (504) 864-7944 fax: (504) 864-7970 wblock@ WWW.WALTERBLOCK.COM http://www.WALTERBLOCK.COM 1 This paper was presented at the Austrian Student Scholar’s Conference at Grove City College November 5-6, 2004. 1 Abstract: A case for the de-criminalization of graffiti is made, based on the existence of an unjust government, and predicated on private property rights. A distinction is made between artistic trespass, or vandalism, on the one hand, which we claim can be undertaken only on private property, and, on the other, graffiti, which in our view can only occur on public property. If the government that claims ownership of the latter is an illicit one, then graffiti can reasonably be interpreted as a justified attack on it, or rebellion. Key Words: Graffiti, art, paintin