Over Consumptions Leads to Economic Inequality and Poverty

Globalization’s impact on sustainable prosperity is examined in the source. It does this by asking a question. Also examined is the impact on all people and this would include both developing nations as well as developed nations. The source is also somewhat leading the reader to question the extent of the impact, which implies that there is a positive impact on sustainable prosperity. Also the fact that it states, “for all people” implies that all people benefit. While globalization may contribute to sustainability to a limited extent or in certain circumstances, on the whole, globalization degrades rather than builds sustainable prosperity. This will be explored through looking at globalization’s systems and forces, specifically consumerism, the media and transnational corporations.

Consumer culture today is thriving – but not necessarily in a good way. As consumer culture thrives, we have desires for products and services. Consumer spending is a major part of a country’s/world’s economy and that makes the economy strong but the aftermath is an unsustainable lifestyle. Although, Wall-E didn’t indicate exactly what caused consumers to destroy the planet and then flee for the sake of human survival, there are many guesses that can be made as to how it happened. One of the major points made in class during week eight was the fact that the world is becoming overpopulated. This major issue can possibly be

The fact of the matter is, “The existence of global poverty helps to ensure the wealth of affordable goods for western consumers.” (Eglitis 224) The supply of these affordable goods and products that are so readily enjoyed by western consumers is a direct result of the benefits gained from participating in a global manufacturing

One of the bigger issues of capitalism is the class conflict it creates, which is demonstrated through the exploitative practices of the poor working class by the Bourgeoisie. The impact of capitalism is having an effects on a global scale. In a capitalist society, wealth is not distributed equally and in the process of aiding the rich to get richer, in both countries that outsource this work as well as in countries that employ sweatshops, the working class are suffering. In the simplest economic terms, the more we consume, the more demand it creates, which only increase the quotas for sweatshops. Another issue within the formulation of sweatshops is the mass consumption of products by individuals in western and developed countries. The products that are sold on the market are often inexpensive to an individual that is protected by minimum wage and social regulations, which allows for leisure time, usually spent purchasing commodities and products. However, the individuals in these sweatshops are not provided the same protection, and often find themselves unable to afford the products they

We are rapidly using limited resources to fulfill our hyperinflated consumer habits in the industrial western countries. This overindulgence in cheap labor and the dirty ways needed to produce those goods has potentially doomed us all. As climate change continues to intensify we are being held increasing liable for demanding so much unneeded production. The western world continues to dominate globally but is weakened by trade deficits from importing all their goods. This also damages domestic markets that previously provided well paying jobs to people who produce labor-intensive goods. The impact of loss of jobs can be felt across the United States and can be seen in the north-side of Springfield. The north-side of Springfield has beautiful homes and businesses that have fell in disrepair and now home the poorest families. This is because the high wages and jobs that produced those homes have now moved to developing

Why Americans consume so much more than we need? Simply, because America is a consumption based society. Maslow has a theory about the Hierarchy of needs. Arguing that a relatively fixed and universal hierarchy of needs. The hierarchy starts off with lower needs which include food, shelter and clothing. Next in the hierarchal ladder are basic needs, which would include the feeling of being safe and having a feeling of belongingness, love, esteem and self-actualization. At the top of the ladder would be higher needs or also known as the ideal needs. An individual may not reach these needs until the lower needs and basic needs are met. Higher needs would include aesthetic, knowledge and understanding (Mayerfeld Bell & Ashwood, 2016). Yet, the hierarchal of needs does not explain why we consume so much. We believe we must keep up with the Joneses. We crave immediate gratification and convenience has helped us get that gratification quicker. A perfect solution for reducing consumption would be if we had small homes. Allowing us to store less and only keep the items we actually need and use on a day to day basis. The Tiny House Movement will help American’s with consumption and materialism. Discussing the benefits of tiny houses and things to consider before joining this movement. Remembering that this movement is not for everyone but I believe this is a good push in the right

“We no longer live life. We consume it.” (Vicki Robin) All of us live in a consumer based era, where it’s out with the old and in with the new. “Consumerism is an economic theory which states that a progressively greater level of consumption is beneficial to the consumers.” ( Since the 1800s and the Industrial Revolution the world has been consuming at higher rates than ever. The Revolution allowed products to be available in enormous quantities in faster production rates. At a glance, consumerism may seem like a way of life, but many of us are unaware of the underlying consequences that it poses in our culture. Pollution, food shortages, and

The arts, food, language, and the whole culture of a developing nation are hurt when globalization occurs. Developing countries are targeted by countries such as America because they have a lower standard of living and are less regulated when it comes to work. When we infiltrate these countries, weather we mean it or not, we shake up their way of life in many different aspects and their culture they once new is destroyed.

Our observations over the years have seen society become both a capitalist and consumer focussed western world, with money being the focus (Norris, 2006, p. 458). With the restriction and reduced spending during World War II, society went from virtual poverty to accelerated spending after the war, with the dominance of commodities and considerable amount of advertising, and cheap imports from around the globe (Norris, 2006, p.

In many cases globalization for the United States can mean outsourcing jobs, because of how work is outsourced to developing nations like China where wages and the cost of manufacturing goods are lower. This outsourcing of jobs can lead to increased job competition that in turn can lead to a reduction in wages and consequently lower standards of living.

Consumption, we describe as the act of meeting basic needs with material goods and the practice of consuming as a way of life is ‘consumerism’ ( Kennedy 173). The ideology that the meaning of life is found in buying things has really caused majority to spend almost their monthly salary on goods and services in search of utility. This excessive recreational spending also plays a part in increase of inflation, also has made more money in circulation.

Globalization is defined by Helena Norberg-Hodge, Steven Gorelick, and John Page as, “the deregulation of trade and finance in order to enable businesses and banks to operate globally. And the emergence of a single world market dominated by transnational companies” (The Economics of Happiness). Despite this un-alarming definition, Katherine Cullen believes the truth behind globalization is much more harmful. According to Cullen, globalization is detrimental to our economy, our climate, and our happiness and well-being. She argues that globalization has destructive practices, and due to, “the promotion of market economies and a consumer lifestyle [globalization disconnects] people from the natural world and fundamental connections absolutely necessary for people to be happy” (Cullen). She also notes that corporations, who are promoting globalization to for financial gain, try and push “cruel advertising” (Cullen) in other regions to endorse the American consumerist culture (Cullen). By doing this, corporations are, “deciding what our culture[s] [are] to increase profit” (Cullen). Cullen claims that corporations use other cultures for financial gain by drain those regions of their resources while transporting mass amounts of goods into the United States. This is why Cullen argues that globalization results in the acceleration of climate change. The act of transporting goods to and from the U.S. emits large amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere (Cullen), resulting in

The people in marginalized communities and third world countries are the ones that are affected the most. People are employed in horrible conditions, and paid horrendous salaries by these huge corporations profiting on the exploitation of these people, while profiting tremendously from the boom in consumer goods. Not only have people of western societies but people around the world are craving and desiring consumer goods. What is being consumed at an alarming rate is technology. With the technological boom and technological advances at an alarming rate has led to people purchasing such products. Because technology has become so globalize and so easy to acquire at a price that is accessible by most, it has led to an increase in sales and production

Globalization, for it or against it, this is a topic you cannot escape. The influences of globalization are impacting every country around the world. Fred Hu and Michael Spence wrote "Why Globalization Stalled: And How to Restart It" published in the July/August 2017 issue of Foreign Affairs. They argue that globalization is a necessary evil that needs to be addressed on many levels to create a sustainable global order that meets the needs multilaterally. They make a successful case as to why we would be better off reforming globalization by touching on the issue many countries are struggling with, which is increasing trade growth while balancing wage inequality and trying to find a balance of protectionism and nationalism. Some people think if we ceased globalization in the United States it would increase our national equality, however, that could not be farthest from what we need. To preserve our spot as number one we need to work on issues here in the United States because foreign trade policies are not progressing with advances in technology, there are inequalities that are creating a sizable gap in our economy, and politicians are focusing on nationalism and protectionism to boost their own agenda's rather than address the real issues.

Through industrial development we have diminished our soil, ruined farmland, trees and have caused extinction of various species. All of these natural resources took over hundreds of millions years to form and Americans have destroyed them all for the need to build more. David Brower a prominent environmentalist says “we have diminished our soil, fisheries, fossil fuels and we have changed the climate. We caused the extinction of countless species by half.” Over consumption has reached a point of harming Americans health and the overall environment. According to John De Graaf, David Wann and Thomas H. Naylor “sixty-nine acres of prime American farmland are lost to development.” Once you cut down and pave over farms the land is gone forever. The very thing that humanity relies on is being taken for granted. Americas increase in consumption does have benefits but the negative effects on the environment, American health and family outweigh the positive.