Work, Consumption and Culture : Affluence and Social Change in the Twenty-first Century

by Paul Ransome

• ISBN13: 9780761959847
• ISBN10: 076195984X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-02-14
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

Summary

The central question in Work, Consumption and Culture is whether consumption has now displaced production as the defining factor in the lives of those in the industrialized West. This book offers a comprehensive review of the key issues in the production/consumption debate, and where it might lead in the future.Key to Paul Ransome's argument is the hypothesis that affluence is the crucial factor in the shift away from work and towards consumption. Uniquely emphasizing the links between work, consumption and culture, rather than keeping each element separate, the author looks at:- the changing significance of work in society- the meaning, growth and significance of affluence- the growing importance of consumption as a source of identity and its implicationsthe impact of the shift to consumption on work/life balanceWork, Consumption and Culture engages the reader with its lively debating style. It is an essential introduction for sociology and cultural studies students on courses relating to consumption and the role of work in contemporary society.'This book offers a balanced account of the changing importance of work and consumption in contemporary industrial society. Clearly written, the author identifies the central role that affluence plays in the relationship between work and consumption, and in the development of social life and individual identity' - Professor Paul Blyton, Cardiff Business School

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Affluence Hypothesis

Work-Based Society

Affluence

Consumption-Based Society

Acts of Consumption

Work, Consumption and Social Identity

Identity Crisis

Workers versus Consumers

The Cultures of Work and Consumption

Concluding Comments

The Affluence Hypothesis Revisited

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