Consumer Capitalism

A phase of capitalism in which economic growth is driven primarily by consumer spending, and where the production of consumer goods and the cultivation of consumer desires become central to capital accumulation. Consumer capitalism emerged in the early 20th century with mass production and advertising, and it intensified after World War II with the expansion of credit, suburbanisation, and the marketing of lifestyle. It depends on planned obsolescence, branding, and the constant invention of new “needs.” Critics argue that consumer capitalism creates environmental destruction, personal debt, and a culture of dissatisfaction, as happiness is forever promised by the next purchase.

Example: “In consumer capitalism, you are not a citizen but a customer; your primary duty is to buy, and your failures are reframed as not buying enough.”

Consumer Capitalism by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal April 21, 2026