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Lauding the Leisure Class: Symbolic Content and Conspicuous Consumption

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  • Alan Shipman

Abstract

Symbolic consumption is assessed as an evolution of previously identified conspicuous consumption, after this has undergone a “de-materialization” that is socially, as much as ecologically, driven. As Veblen observed, the shift of wealth towards new forms of physical and financial capital with industrialization compels traditional wealth-holders to redefine privilege in terms of cultural capital. Accompanying social changes enable them to do so. The limited reproducibility of items consumed for their symbolic value, and slow transmissibility of the means of symbolic consumption, force holders of new wealth to compete for status on terms set by the established leisure class. Conspicuity shifts from quantity to quality, from the appropriation of materially valued products to the appreciation of culturally valued products. This paper examines some key implications of a shift from “waste” to “taste” in conspicuous consumption for the social and natural environment, and for economic development. In particular, it explores the possibility of branded products representing the mass production of symbolic goods in high-income economies; and the brand premium's potentially beneficial consequences for global income distribution, when branded production relocates to lower-income economies in conditions of free trade.

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  • Alan Shipman, 2004. "Lauding the Leisure Class: Symbolic Content and Conspicuous Consumption," Review of Social Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(3), pages 277-289.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsocec:v:62:y:2004:i:3:p:277-289
    DOI: 10.1080/0034676042000253909
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jon D. Wisman & Matthew E. Davis, 2013. "Degraded Work, Declining Community, Rising Inequality, and the Transformation of the Protestant Ethic in America: 1870–1930," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(5), pages 1075-1105, November.
    2. Jackson, William A., 2015. "Distributive Justice With and Without Culture," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 8(6), pages 673-688.
    3. Congshan Zhang & Maktoba Omar & Nathalia C. Tjandra, 2016. "An Investigation of Key Market Growth Factors that Influence the “Luxurisation” of Golf Industry in China," Journal of Business, LAR Center Press, vol. 1(1), pages 21-28, March.
    4. Ross, Cody T., 2016. "Sliding-scale environmental service payments and non-financial incentives: Results of a survey of landowner interest in Costa Rica," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 252-262.
    5. Jon Wisman, 2011. "Inequality, Social Respectability, Political Power, and Environmental Devastation," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(4), pages 877-900.
    6. Robert M. Bridi & Marwa Ben Jabra & Naeema Al Hosani, 2022. "An Examination of Consumers’ Opinions toward Adopting Electric Vehicles in the United Arab Emirates: On the Effects of Functional and Symbolic Values," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-19, August.
    7. De Silva, Muthu & Wang, Pengji & Kuah, Adrian T.H., 2021. "Why wouldn’t green appeal drive purchase intention? Moderation effects of consumption values in the UK and China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 713-724.
    8. Moorlock, Emily & Dekel-Dachs, Ofer & Stokes, Peter & Larsen, Gretchen, 2023. "Constructing Consumer-Masstige brand relationships in a volatile social reality," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PA).
    9. Brian J Hracs & Doreen Jakob & Atle Hauge, 2013. "Standing out in the Crowd: The Rise of Exclusivity-Based Strategies to Compete in the Contemporary Marketplace for Music and Fashion," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(5), pages 1144-1161, May.
    10. Ekinci, Yuksel & Sirakaya-Turk, Ercan & Preciado, Sandra, 2013. "Symbolic consumption of tourism destination brands," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(6), pages 711-718.
    11. Martha A. Starr, 2006. "Macroeconomic dimensions of social economics: Saving, the stock market, and pension systems," Working Papers 2006-09, American University, Department of Economics.

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