Compare and contrast: Consumer culture leaves Americans better prepared for hard times. Meanwhile, older virtues help Ireland weather the recession.
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The more I think about Postrel’s society, the less I think it particularly relevant. Yes, having 11 pairs of shoes means that you can go without buying shoes. Of course, if you had 6 pairs of shoes, you might have something even more valuable: money in the bank. Then, if you need a new pair of shoes, you can buy that pair of shoes and still have… money in the bank.
It’s a fair-ish argument regarding purchasing “things” rather than “experience” but it’s not particularly good argument for accumulating stuff more generally.Report