#consumerism

#consumerism

In the 1980s, the world's largest producer of shoes was the Communist Soviet Union, turning out 800 million pairs a year, yet queues formed for foreign shoes.

Vance Packard identified "planned obsolescence" as a sales tactic that encouraged consumers to buy more by making older products seem outdated or intentionally short-lived.

The Federal Reserve's reduction of 0.50% in interest rates this year will encourage borrowing, potentially boosting consumerism and affecting stock market dynamics.

"Materialists" winds up turning romance on its head to explore some of its unseemliest unspoken truths, marking the emergence of a new genre: the rom-con.

This ongoing struggle is taking a toll. A 2023 study published by Frontiers in Psychology found that materialism is consistently associated with mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

In his new book 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times, Ross Benes explores one fateful year and its impact on everything from network television to consumerist mania.

This is the first of two articles exploring a fundamental shift I believe entrepreneurs have a responsibility to embrace - one that frees consumers from unprecedented levels of debt.

"I can't sit home any longer" reflects the concern of individuals like Todd Katzman about the Trump administration's policies that marginalize LGBTQ communities, immigrants and others.

"Disney adults never seem to care that much about watching the movies or singing the songs. It always seems to be more about buying merchandise and visiting the parks."

In 'The Age of Choice,' Rosenfeld studies how the concept of choice has evolved to symbolize freedom, while exploring its burdensome implications in modern life.

The unified message I took away from the ads was that the time of new ideas is receding, and society along with it. The theme was the soft acceptance of a comfortable death.

Pippa Garner's innovative works were driven by curiosity rather than political agenda, combining humor with a critique of society's norms surrounding art and consumerism.

Life hacks, as commonly understood in software, often point to superficial fixes; rather, I find deeper meaning in exploring systemic questions, which leads to genuine learning.

Instead of overspending on elaborate holiday dinners, opt for simple, enjoyable meals with friends, emphasizing the value of time and connection over high costs.