The New Consumerism. An Essay on Social Comparison, Inequality and Well Being
Author(s)
Schor, Juliet B.
Abstract
In this essay, it is argued that during the past decades consumption behavior has changed dramatically in the US and other Western societies. The traditional horizontal pattern of comparing with other consumers has been abandoned in favor of a more vertical pattern, where consumers tend to compare with high income groups. This evolution has had profound consequences on consumption patterns and on the well-being of consumers. While consumer aspirations have risen substantially, for most middle-class people actual buying power has risen but marginally. The essay also explores how these changes affect the study of contemporary society and consumer behavior.
IssueNo
1
Pages
10-20
Article
Article Not Available
Source
Tijdschrift voor Sociologie
VolumeNo
23
PubDate
2002
ISBN_ISSN
0777-883X
Browse Path(s)
History —-Social and Cultural History ——–Consumerism/Consumption
