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Without consumerism the economy would be in ruins. Consumer culture has had a positive impact on society. A world without consumerism is like a world without money, literally. When people shop there is money circulating and the rate of demand increases tremendously. Critics of consumerism say that shopping has replaced more important things but personally I beg to differ.

According to the critics of consumerism, “shopping has displaced other more important yearnings such as spending time with our families and in our communities”. When you go to the mall you mainly see families shopping together. Just because the families aren’t living up to the critics expectations of what a family should do doesn’t mean that they aren’t spending time together. In the article The Consumer Culture, Rebecca Michalski certainly believes that it’s a good thing for families to do together. She does it with hers. Economists believe that the critics of consumerism aren’t thinking clearly, advertisement doesn’t brainwash people.

Advertisement has been out for a long time, a decade according to the timeline from Consumer Culture piece. In 1900, businesses spent $500 million on advertising. The whole concept of being brainwashed by advertisement preposterous. People buy things that they want and moreover need. Betsy Taylor, an executive director, says “the idea that you can buy fulfillment is repeated constantly in the media”. Well Betsy I ponder on that statement. Do you think that citizens aren’t smart enough to make their own decisions? What the consumers buy is their business.

Critics of consumerism, says that the society has to find ways to discourage the rampant buying of the average consumer. If consumers stop buying products the economy would bust and money flow would be tight. In 2004 online purchases were expected to reach 185 million. In 2004 the economy was booming. Consumer demand for certain products tends to speed up the pace of innovation, and companies are pushed to work harder.