SOC 125 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Consumerism, Consumer Debt, All Time High
Document Summary
Consumerism the belief that personal wellbeing and happiness depend on personal consumption, particularly of material goods. Consumerist society one in which a lot of time effort and resources are oriented towards consuming. Consumerism vs consumption: consumption is a necessary feature of markets. Work and spend treadmill leisure time, less going out. Work hard, us has no legally mandated time off, works the most hours. People who make more money get more leisure days off. Few workers work longer instead of more workers working shorter hours. Marketing positional goods, status displayed through things you own. Perfect market for leisure would let people choose the amount of work and leisure they need to make themselves happy. billion in advertising expenditures in 2001. billion in advertising expenditures in 2001. Income equality is at an all time high. Top 20% receive 49% , below the poverty line 3. 8% of income. Declining public leisure leads to higher cost subsidies.
