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Consuming Symbolic Goods

Identity and Commitment, Values and Economics

Wilfred Dolfsma editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:20th Feb '09

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

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Consuming Symbolic Goods cover

The phenomenon of consumption has increasingly drawn attention from economists. While the ‘sole purpose of production is consumption’, as Adam Smith has claimed, economists have up to recently generally ignored the topic.

This book brings together a range of different perspectives on the topic of consumption that will finally shed the necessary light on a largely neglected theme, such as

  • Why is the consumption of symbolic goods different than that of goods that are not constitutive of individuals’ identity?
  • How does the consumption of symbolic goods affect social processes and economic phenomena?
  • Will taking consumption (of symbolic goods) seriously impact economics itself?

The book discusses these issues theoretically, and, through analyses of such cases as food, religion, fashion, empirically as well. It also discusses the possible role in the future of consumption.

This book was previously published as a special issue of Review of Social Economy

ISBN: 9780415491389

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 300g

162 pages