World of Consumption: The Material and the Cultural Revisited (Economics As Social Theory)

Consumption has become one of the leading topics across the social sciences and vocational disciplines such as marketing and business studies. In this comprehensively updated and revised new edition, traditional approaches as well as the most recent literature are fully addressed and incorporated, with wide reference to theoretical and empirical work. Fine's refreshing and authoritative text includes a critical examination of such themes as: * economics imperialism and globalization * the world of commodities * systems of provision and culture * the consumer society * public consumption. This book presents an updated analysis of the cluttered landscape of studies of consumption that will make it required reading for students from a wide range of backgrounds including political economy, history and social science courses generally. In This Comprehensively Updated And Revised New Edition, Traditional Approaches In Studies Of Consumption As Well As The Most Recent Literature Are Addressed And Incorporated, With Wide Reference To Theoretical And Empirical Work. 1. Introduction And Overview -- 2. From Economics Imperialism To Globalisation? -- 3. The World Of Commodities -- 4. Use Value And Consumption -- 5. Consumption Through Systems Of Provision -- 6. Systems Of Provision And Cultural Systems -- 7. Economics And Consumption -- 8. What Is Consumer Society? -- 9. Whatever Happened To Public Consumption? -- 10. Welfarism In Light Of Globalisation -- 11. Whither Consumption Studies? Ben Fine. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 258-298) And Indexes. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 10 Introduction and overview......Page 16 From economics imperialism to globalisation?......Page 24 The world of commodities......Page 41 Use value and consumption......Page 72 Consumption through systems of provision......Page 94 Systems of provision and cultural systems......Page 116 Economics and consumption......Page 140 What is consumer society?......Page 170 Whatever happened to public consumption?......Page 191 Welfarism in light of globalisation......Page 202 Whither consumption studies?......Page 226 Notes......Page 244 References......Page 273 Name Index......Page 314 Subject Index......Page 322 In the opinion of many people the last decade saw the arrival of the `consumer society'. However, the response of social theory to consumerism has been barely appropriate to the scale of the changes. As an antidote to this, the authors propose the adoption of a new, more inclusive theoretical approach, based on ""systems of provision"". This emphasises different forms of determination for different products. It also emphasises the essential continuity between the various aspects of consumption: production, distribution, marketing, advertising and sales This completely updated and revised new edition presents an analysis of the cluttered landscape of studies of consumption examining themes such as the world of commodities, economic imperialism and globalization and the consumer society. The study of consumption has expanded prodigiously over the last twenty years.