CONSUMERISM

 Organized efforts by individuals, groups, and governments to help protect consumers from
policies and practices that infringe customer rights to fair business practices
 Continual expansion of one’s wants and needs for goods and services

Other definitions of consumerism:

 Concept that customers should be informed decision makers in the market place
 Field of studying, regulating, or interacting with the market place
 Frivolous collecting of products or economic materialism

HISTORY

 Consumerism can be sometimes used in reference to the anthropological and biological

phenomena of people purchasing goods and consuming materials in excess of basic needs
 The consumer society emerged in the late 17th century and intensified throughout the 18th
century. Critics argued that consumerism was a political and economic necessity for the
reproduction of capitalist competition for markets and profits.
 The Industrial Revolution dramatically increased the availability of consumer goods primarily on
the capital goods sector and industrial infrastructure.
 Emulation became the core component of the 21st century consumerism.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantages:

 The consumer chooses his/her lifestyle – what goods are necessary and what luxuries can be
afforded.
 The opportunity to enjoy this world (food, drink, entertainment) in various quantities.
 Economic advantages to a large segment of the population (middle- and upper-class).
 The opportunity and motivation to improve your social standing by working hard.

Disadvantages:

 In a capitalistic market aimed at selling, certain trends may emerge. it is in the interest of
producers that the consumer’s needs and desires never be completely or permanently fulfilled,
so the consumer can repeat the consumption process and purchase more products. this can be
accomplished with made-to-break products, continuously changing the trends of the market
(i.e.: fashion), employing class-envy, encouraging individuals to purchase above their means.
 In a consumeristic society, people begin to seek money/goods as the greatest good rather than
influence or helping others.
 Consumerist societies are more prone to damage the environment and use up resources at a
higher rate than other societies.
  In consumeristic societies, the upper- and middle-class typically benefit at the expense of the
lower-class or other non-consumeristic societies.

EFFECTS:

 Misuse Of Land And Resources

 Exporting Pollution And Waste From Rich Countries To Poor Countries
 Obesity Due To Excessive Consumption
 A Cycle Of Waste, Disparities And Poverty

CRITICISMS:

 Consumerism can take extreme forms such that consumers sacrifice significant time and income
not only to purchase but also to actively support a certain firm or brand
 Critics of consumerism often point out that consumerist societies are more prone to damage the
environment, contribute to global warming and use up resources at a higher rate than other
societies
 The spread of consumerism in cultural aspects as seen in product placements where the line
between information, entertainment and promotion of products has been blurred so people are
more reformulated into consumerist behavior.