Question

Evaluate the positives and negatives of consumerism, including the relationship between affluence and stress on the environment.

Answer 1

Consumerism an ideology that promotes a continuous consumption of goods and services. The primary advantages of consumerism include higher industrial production and a growth in the economy. Increased production results in more employment opportunities in the particular sector along with other areas such as sales, marketing, and advertising. An availability of a variety of goods and services to choose from provides greater options to the consumers and allows a more comfortable lifestyle.

The dangers of consumerism, however, are not unknown. There is a direct relationship between consumerism and ecological imbalance. Affluence allows individuals an increased purchasing capacity that increases the stress on the environment since most goods and services rely on the natural environment for resources. In addition, consumerism has been frequently found to have a negative impact on spiritual and psychological well-being.