Consumption And Leisure Habits Of The Leisure Class

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2 / 8 wish to conform to the accepted standards of society. Veblen was against wastefully expenses such as owning pets and using beauty products. The leisure class is associated with waste and stands opposite to the needs of society in terms of efficiently distributing goods.
In order to examine the consumption and leisure habits of the leisure class, Veblen must look at their lifestyles. In doing so, he examines not only their characteristics but also their activities, manner of dress, religions, and pursuit of activities of higher learning. He views the activities and spending habits of this leisure class. Veblen says, “The range of employments open to them is rigidly defined. As on …show more content…

Industrial employment includes labour and management leading to production. Pecuniary employment relates to the valuation, marketing, and distribution for what is produced. According to Veblen, pecuniary employments “rest on the institution of private property” while industrial employments “rest chiefly on the physical conditions of human life.” Veblen states that while business centers on the state of the market, industrial employments aim to shape and guide material things and processes. Industry is primarily occupied with material serviceability rather than exchange value. Industrial output depends on and is majorly affected by the organization of the firm. Production is institutional and cannot be grounded on physical conditions without the inclusion of organizational and motivational matters. Veblen admits that pecuniary and industrial activities do interact and he acknowledges that particular business arrangements usually lead to a greater industrial …show more content…

As items which sometimes fall under this head, and are therefore available as illustrations of the manner in which the principle applies, may be cited carpets and tapestries, silver table service, waiter’s services, silk hats, starched linen, many articles of jewelry and of dress. The indispensability of these things after that habit and the convention have been formed, however, has little to say in the classification of expenditures as waste or not waste in the technical meaning of the word” (Veblen 62). This quote outlines the cultural essence and necessity of commodity fethisism in Veblen’s analysis of conspicuous consumption. He uses an example of silver flatware and other luxuries used and fetishized by members of the “leisure class.” Veblen outlines how commodity fethisism becomes perceived to be a necessity among those within the leisure class in holding their pecuniary canons of taste despite being wasteful in terms of use value. Veblen states, “The leisure class is in great measure sheltered from the stress of those economic exigencies which prevail in any modern, highly organized industrial community. The exigencies of the struggle for the means of

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