But this presupposes that they only "useful skills" are those that are economically useful. There are plenty of artistic skills that produce products that are not generally of high economic value but are helpful to society by making life nicer to live.
There are statues that I go by every day that generate zero revenue for the city, but they make getting around town just a little bit nicer. Nobody is coming to this city to see these statues, so they don't drive tourist revenue. They're just there and nice to look at.
The artists made some money, but there's no return on investment in straight dollars for the city that commissioned these works. And yet it is valuable to society.
There are statues that I go by every day that generate zero revenue for the city, but they make getting around town just a little bit nicer. Nobody is coming to this city to see these statues, so they don't drive tourist revenue. They're just there and nice to look at.
The artists made some money, but there's no return on investment in straight dollars for the city that commissioned these works. And yet it is valuable to society.