Consumerism

 Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the purchase of goods and services in ever-greater amounts. Criticisms of consumption are already present in the works of Thorstein Veblen (1899). Veblen's subject of examination, the newly emergent middle class arising at the turn of the twentieth century, comes to full fruition by the end of the twentieth century through the process of globalization. In this sense, consumerism is usually considered a part of media culture.

The term "consumerism" has also been used to refer to something quite different called the consumerists movement, consumer protection or consumer activism, which seeks to protect and inform consumers by requiring such practices as honest packaging and advertising, product guarantees, and improved safety standards.

In economics, consumerism refers to economic policies placing emphasis on consumption. The term "consumerism" has several definitions. These definitions may not be related to each other and confusingly, they conflict with each other.

1.       One sense of the term is to describe the efforts to support consumers' interests. By the early 1970s, it was the accepted term for the field and began to be used in these ways:

a)       "Consumerism" is the concept that consumers should be informed decision makers in the marketplace. Practices such as product testing make consumers informed.

b)       "Consumerism" is the concept that the marketplace itself is responsible for ensuring economic justice and fairness in society. Consumer protection policies and laws compel manufacturers to make products safe.

c)       "Consumerism" refers to the field of studying, regulating, or interacting with the marketplace.^[4] The consumer movement is the social movement which refers to all actions and all entities within the marketplace which give consideration to the consumer.

2.       While the above definitions were being established, other people began using the term "consumerism" to mean "high levels of consumption”. This definition gained popularity since the 1970s and began to be used in these ways:

a)       "Consumerism" is the selfish and frivolous collecting of products, or economic materialism. In protest to this some people promote "anti-consumerism" and advocacy for simple living.^[4]

b)      "Consumerism" is a force from the marketplace, which destroys individuality and harms society.^[4] It is related to globalization and in protest to this some people promote the "anti-globalization movement".