Conspicuous consumption

The conspicuous consumption is a consumption intended to show a social status, a lifestyle or a personality. This concept is founder in social sciences.

Theory of the class of leisure of Veblen

The concept of consumption conspicuous is present since 1899 in the work of Thorstein Veblen, a Sociologue and American economist. In its study of the higher classes ( Theory of the class of leisure - 1899 ), very upper middle classes in the United States, Veblen notes that this one wastes time and goods. When it supports in the life the leisure, it wastes time, and when it consumes in an ostentatious way, it wastes goods.

Consumption is statutory, it is used for that which in fact an ostentatious use to indicate a social status. In other words, somebody who buys a luxury car can indicate to that which buys a family car, " by my statute, I do not require that my consumption reflects my besoins". When the upper middle classes states-unienne of the end of the nineteenth century makes use of many lackeys, it indicates that it is above all the needs, plus it has of lackey plus it affirms the nature not anchored in the need for its statute.

Elsewhere in social sciences

One finds this concept in a form or another in sociology of Pierre Bourdieu, Robert K. Merton and in another measure to the work of Jean Baudrillard. For Bourdieu, the frequentation of certain places and the esthetic and culinary tastes of the higher classes are statutory. It is what Merton calls a latent effect of consumption.

Veblen effect

The Veblen effect describes the concept of consumption conspicuous: the increase in the goods is matched in an increase in consumption in those. This effect goes against the general law of the request: the request tends to increase with the fall of the prices.

Example: Indian tribe " Kwakiutl " practical a ceremony " Potlatch ". The purpose of this one is, to offer the greatest number of gifts and the most invaluable possible. Thereafter they destroy all.

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