These essays show that industrialisation and fast economic growth have changed not only the broad material environment, but have also had a very important impact on basic food consumption. The introductory chapter takes a theoretical view and tries to establish the interrelationship between economic forces and social habits. The other contributors analyse how the experience of Europe, Japan and North America fit this general explanation and they demonstrate how cultural and regional differences have shaped the development of consumer behaviour and patterns of consumption over the last two centuries.

Written at a time when the needs and influence of the consumer within the economic system were in their infancy, this book offers a valuable insight into the birth of consumer-led economics as an integral part of social structure and economic theory.

From identity theft to product recalls, from what we once thought of as unshakeable institutions to increasing concerns about sustainability, consumer issues are an integral part of modern life. This fully updated third edition of Consumer Economics offers students an accessible and thorough guide to the concerns surrounding the modern consumer and brings to light the repercussions of making uninformed decisions in today’s economy. This definitive textbook introduces students to these potential issues and covers other key topics including consumer behavior, personal finance, legal rights and responsibilities, as well as marketing and advertising. Combining theory and practice, students are introduced to both the fundamentals of consumer economics and how to become better-informed consumers themselves. Highlights in this new edition include: New Critical Thinking Projects feature to encourage students to develop their critical thinking skills through analysing consumer issues. Expanded coverage of social media and the impact of social influence on consumers. Revised Consumer Alerts: practical advice and guidance for students to make smart consumer decisions. A new Companion Website with a range of presentation materials and exercises related to each chapter. Fully updated throughout, this textbook is suitable for students studying consumer sciences – what works, what doesn’t, and how consumers are changing.

A Product Of Work Done At The Survey Research Center Of The University Of Michigan.

This Handbook examines the area of consumer behaviour from the perspective of current developments and developing areas for the discipline, to new opportunities that comprehend the nature of consumer choice and its relationship to marketing. Consumer research incorporates perspectives from a spectrum of long-established sciences: psychology, economics and sociology. This Handbook strives to include this multitude of sources of thought, adding geography, neuroscience, ethics and behavioural ecology to this list. Encompassing scholars with a passion for researching consumers, this Handbook highlights important developments in consumer behaviour research, including consumer culture, impulsivity and compulsiveness, ethics and behavioural ecology. It examines evolutionary and neuroscience perspectives as well as consumer choice. Undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers in marketing with interests in consumer behaviour will find this enriching resource invaluable.