Consumer Culture - Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Consumer Culture - Research Paper - Essay Example The television, however, in itself has brought great detriment to the human society. In the twenty-first century, the television is a major contributor to consumerism. A hypothesis on the beginning of American consumerism builds from the context of the mid 1940’s to the 1950’s. The Keynesian reconstruction principles and the spurred economic growth delivered new products delivered increased per capita income to families. Jobs were abundant, wages surged, and the Americans saw a promising country that would deliver previously suffocated promises. People married and bore children at unimagined rates. In addition, people bought homes as suburbs rapidly expanded. From the mid 1940’s to the 1950’s, consumption was a form of patriotism. In this sense, individuals did not lonely indulge in irrational material desire but viewed such a behavior as delivering the goals of the American nation. It is speculated that this view is attributable to the Keynesian economics which proposed consumption as the only way of raising the American economy out of the depression. Family life and the home was the epicenter of consumerism. This expl ains the high level purchases of items such as washing machines, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, cars, and the television. The American psyche believed that such machines would inject modernity in their homes. For instance, between 1945 and 1959, Americans bought 21.4 million cars and 20 million refrigerators (The Tupperware 1). The television, especially, became a key symbol of modernity and lives of people began depending on the then marvelous gadget (Gray 23). Such hedonism would not have been possible without an overwhelming influence, the television. Television has the emotions that spur a hedonistic culture whereby individuals highly respond to visual impulses. In such a setting, individuals constantly daydream about products that can fill their lives. The American business landscape

The Impact Of World Demographic Change On The Future Of Business Essay

The Impact Of World Demographic Change On The Future Of Business Operations And Trading Opportunities - Essay Example The paper tells that unprecedented global demographic changes taking place are expected to impact business operations. During the twentieth century â€Å"the global population increased nearly fourfold, growing from 1.5 billion in 1900 to 6 billion in 2000†. Population growth rates increased significantly particularly in the developing world in the first part of the century, reaching a peak in the late 1960s. The swift growth in population was met with a hitherto uncommon response. The increased concerns related to environmental and economic effects of demographic increase motivated the United Nations, bilateral foreign aid agencies, multilateral institutions and private foundations to invest billions of dollars in population programmes. The governments of several developing countries, specifically those in Asia vigourously formulated and implemented policies aimed at slowing population expansion. The emerging evidence indicates that across the globe, population impacts econom ic growth with age structure playing a crucial role. â€Å"As the dependency ratio falls, opportunities for economic growth tend to rise, creating what is now referred to as a â€Å"demographic dividend†. Development in the quality of health care, improvements in health, and the related increase in life expectancy are among the most outstanding demographic changes of the past century. The historical rise in life expectancy reveals reduced infant and child mortality due to public health interventions related to water and sanitation, along with medical interventions such as vaccines and antibiotics. On the other hand, the continued increase in life expectancy since the past few decades particularly in high income countries, is mainly associated with reductions in age-specific death rates at middle and older ages. The declines are related to â€Å"improvements in medical technology, life-style changes, and income growth† (Bloom & Canning 2004, p.4). Globally, life expect ancy rose to more than double the earlier levels, from around 30 years in the year 1900 to 65 years by 2000. It is estimated to rise to 81 years by the end of the 21st century, states Lee (2003). Clark, Ogawa and Mason (2007) reiterate that all developed countries are experiencing rapid aging of the population, and in most countries over 12 percent of the population is over 65 years and older. In Japan, the proportion of the elderly population exceeded the 20 percent level in 2005, and several other developed countries reveal similar statistics. In most parts of the developed world, â€Å"national population projections indicate continued aging, with some countries facing the prospect of actual population decline and a super aging of the population† (Clark et al 2007, p.3). Further, several developing countries particularly in Asia such as China and South Korea, as well as others less economically successful, are now aging rapidly. Those countries that age before attaining ec onomic prosperity will likely face extensive challenges in the future. The association between population growth and the economy has been debated by several scholars and policymakers. As early as 1798, Thomas Malthus put forth that the rate of population growth was held in equilibrium by the rate of economic growth (IMF 2004). While East Asia met the challenges of rapid population growth, â€Å"other demographic changes were creating opportunities for more rapid economic growth†