Consumerism

Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts. With the industrial revolution, but particularly in the 20th century, mass production led to overproduction—the supply of goods would grow beyond consumer demand, and so manufacturers turned to planned obsolescence and advertising to manipulate consumer spending.

History

The term "consumerism" has several definitions. These definitions may not be related to each other and confusingly, they conflict with each other. One sense of the term relates to efforts to support consumers' interests. By the early 1970s it had become the accepted term for the field and began to be used in these ways:

• Consumerism is the concept that consumers should be informed decision makers in the marketplace.
• Practices such as product testing make consumers informed.
• Consumerism is the concept that the marketplace itself is responsible for ensuring social justice through fair economic practices.
• Consumer protection policies and laws compel manufacturers to make products safe.

Consumerism in healthcare

In healthcare, the term consumerism has been used to describe a movement advocating greater patient involvement in healthcare delivery and design. This movement is often referred to as the "consumer-driven healthcare" movement.

See also

• Consumer protection
• Consumer activism
• Consumer education
• Consumer movement
• Consumer-driven healthcare

References

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