Do Americans Shop Too Much? (New Democracy Forum)

By Juliet B. Schor

Book Overview

Juliet Schor breaks a taboo by exposing Americans' shopping habits to moral society. Schor disapproves of unfettered private consumption, not only because we already use up so much, but also because overspending to bolster a sense of self does not lead to happiness. Along with her critique, Schor suggests intriguing ideas for making 'status' goods accessible for all--for example, imposing high taxes on expensive items to subsidize lines of affordable 'luxury' goods. A firestorm of responses follow from economist Robert Frank and others.

The New Democracy Forum is a series of short paperback originals exploring creative solutions to our most urgent national concerns.

"A civic treasure. . . . A truly good idea, carried out with intelligence and panache." --Robert Pinsky

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080700443X
• ISBN13: 9780807004432
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Beacon Press
• Length: 118 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

What every environmentalist knows, what ever economist fears

Something is happening here, in the United $tates. We're experiencing a great slow-down of our economy, the once vibrant job-market is slowing in job openings, recent grades from our public school systems are near or at a decline, the youth of the United $tates are quickly taking a lead in debt, and yet, people continue to spend. GW Bush recently let loose some of our tax dollars, to try and stir up the economy. More money in our pockets, the economist figure, the more money we'll spend. The more money we spend, the greater the economy will be. But, something just isn't working. As the Feds reduce the prime interest rate by small increments, unemployeement still rises. What is it that we're doing wrong? Maybe we're buying too much junk? A retooling of our economy, and the good produced, and how these goods affect our nation, our families, and our selves, is needed. Juliet Schor's book is an incredible tool for this purpose.

Short, but definetely full of ideas

The books is broken down into three sections: first there is a section by Schor on America's obsession w/ shopping, why and how to fix (mostly a scaled down recap of her previous books). The second sections is an evaluation of Schor's ideas by a series of economists. Some like here theories but disagree on resoltions, some just don't like what she has to say. Finally, the last section is her response to these evaluations.It's a really great primer on the subject and gives you an opportunity to see many points of view. Hopefully with that you can make your own decision on causes, effects and solutions. When I first got it and realized that it was laid out this way, I was a little disappointed, but ended up very glad that they did this.

Keeping up with 90210, and other inequalities

I was afraid, when I was ordering this book, that even though the topic interests me, the book would be dry and academic. However, it isn't - it's well written, and easy to follow, not overladen with academic studies. Schor's basic thesis is that Americans used to be satisfied with keeping up with the Joneses down the street, in their own neighborhood, but now we feel we must keep up with the rich and famous we see on TV.In the introduction, Ralph Nader mentions another book, _Fat and Mean : The Corporate Squeeze of Working Americans and the Myth of Managerial 'Downsizing'_, which is also worth reading. Add to that another book, _Why We Buy : The Science of Shopping_, which I've also read. It's about how marketers induce people to shop and buy. Taken together, the three books will make you think, and definitely give you a basis for rejecting overt commercialism. You'll think twice about your next purchase in a store! (Except for books, of course; buying books is GOOD!) _

Highly recommended for non-specialist general readers.

In Do Americans Shop Too Much?, Harvard economist Juliet Schor (with the assistance of Robert Frank, Michele Lamont, Lawrence Mishel and others) traces the current over consumption trends of American consumers influenced by media presentations of affluence. Calling for Americans to see private consumption in the light of public costs and consequences (including debt burdens, interest rate erosions on disposable income, etc.) Schor suggests a consumer movement in which people re-evaluate their basic needs versus media and advertising induced desires, placing instead, new, more financially conservative and budget-friendly values on family, leisure and community time. Enhanced with an informative Foreword by consumer advocate Ralph Nader, Do Americans Shop Too Much? is clearly written and highly accessible reading recommended for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in financial management, the impact of culture on spending habits, and the influence of media on personal and family financial behavior.