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Busyness, Status Distinction and Consumption Strategies of the Income Rich, Time Poor

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel, sullivan{at}bgu.ac.il

This article addresses the dilemma of consumption for those in income-rich, time-poor households in the contemporary affluent economies of the West. Following Linder, two `temporal strategies of consumption' are proposed, reflected in the consumption profiles of high status groups. The first is `voracious' consumption, denoting a fast `pace' and variety of leisure participation. The second is inconspicuous consumption — the purchasing of expensive consumer goods without the time to use them or the primary intent to display them. From a political economic perspective a solution is provided as to how to increase consumer spending among those with high disposable incomes and little leisure time.

Key Words: consumption • cultural omnivorousness • status distinction • time pressure

Time & Society, Vol. 17, No. 1, 5-26 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0961463X07086307


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