The Future of Consumer Society

Prospects for Sustainability in the New Economy

Business & Finance, Economics, Macroeconomics
Cover of the book The Future of Consumer Society by Maurie J. Cohen, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Maurie J. Cohen ISBN: 9780191081026
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: November 3, 2016
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Maurie J. Cohen
ISBN: 9780191081026
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: November 3, 2016
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

Consumer society in the United States and other countries is receding due to demographic ageing, rising income inequality, political paralysis, and resource scarcity. At the same time, steady jobs that compensate employees on a salaried or hourly basis are being replaced by freelancing and contingent work. The rise of the so-called sharing economy, the growth of do-it-yourself production, and the spreading popularity of economic localization are evidence that people are striving to find new ways to ensure livelihoods for themselves and their families in the face of profound change. Indications are that we are at the early stages of a transition away from a system of social organization predicated on consumerism. These developments have prompted some policy makers to suggest providing households with a non-labor source of income that would enable more adequate satisfaction of their basic needs. These proposals include a universal basic income, a citizen's dividend, and a legal framework for broad-based stock ownership in corporations. However, extreme political fractiousness makes it unlikely that these recommendations will receive prompt and widespread legislative endorsement in most countries. In the meantime, we seem to be moving incontrovertibly toward a twenty-first century version of feudalism. How might we chart a different path founded on social inclusiveness and economic security? A practicable option entails establishment of networks of interlinked worker-consumer cooperatives that organizationally unify production and consumer. Such modes of mutual assistance already exist and The Future of Consumer Society profiles several successful examples from around the world. If replicated and scaled, worker-consumer cooperatives could smooth the transition beyond consumer society and facilitate a future premised on sufficiency, resiliency, and well-being.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Consumer society in the United States and other countries is receding due to demographic ageing, rising income inequality, political paralysis, and resource scarcity. At the same time, steady jobs that compensate employees on a salaried or hourly basis are being replaced by freelancing and contingent work. The rise of the so-called sharing economy, the growth of do-it-yourself production, and the spreading popularity of economic localization are evidence that people are striving to find new ways to ensure livelihoods for themselves and their families in the face of profound change. Indications are that we are at the early stages of a transition away from a system of social organization predicated on consumerism. These developments have prompted some policy makers to suggest providing households with a non-labor source of income that would enable more adequate satisfaction of their basic needs. These proposals include a universal basic income, a citizen's dividend, and a legal framework for broad-based stock ownership in corporations. However, extreme political fractiousness makes it unlikely that these recommendations will receive prompt and widespread legislative endorsement in most countries. In the meantime, we seem to be moving incontrovertibly toward a twenty-first century version of feudalism. How might we chart a different path founded on social inclusiveness and economic security? A practicable option entails establishment of networks of interlinked worker-consumer cooperatives that organizationally unify production and consumer. Such modes of mutual assistance already exist and The Future of Consumer Society profiles several successful examples from around the world. If replicated and scaled, worker-consumer cooperatives could smooth the transition beyond consumer society and facilitate a future premised on sufficiency, resiliency, and well-being.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book Cosmic Anger: Abdus Salam - The First Muslim Nobel Scientist by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Proprietary Rights and Insolvency by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Fleeing Hitler by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book International Investment Arbitration by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Chemistry: A Very Short Introduction by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Music and the Irish Literary Imagination by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Receptive Ecumenism and the Call to Catholic Learning by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Contract Law Without Foundations by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Rastafari: A Very Short Introduction by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Scents and Sensibility by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Work: A Very Short Introduction by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Spandrels of Truth by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book Anglo-Saxon England by Maurie J. Cohen
Cover of the book International Law and Domestic Legal Systems by Maurie J. Cohen
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy