Intricacies of modern consumption: Consumerism vs. deconsumption

• Main Author: Felicjan Bylok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lodz University Press 2017-12-01
• Series: Annales Etyka w Życiu Gospodarczym
• Subjects: consumerism; consumption styles; deconsumption; anti-consumption; sustainable consumption
• Online Access: https://czasopisma.uni.lodz.pl/annales/article/view/4344

The subject of considerations in the paper is a reflection on modern consumption. The author, in search of an answer to the question what main orientations determine consumer behaviour in the market, formulates the hypothesis that deconsumption may become a permanent trend in the development of modern consumption. In order to verify this hypothesis, consumerism along with its main styles and deconsumption as a response to excessive consumption are analysed. The author presents forms of deconsumption, i.e. sustainable consumption, green consumerism, ethical consumption, anti-consumption and consumer movements promoting such forms of consumption. In the conclusions, he points to the development potential of deconsumption manifested in a growing number of consumers who are changing their consumption habits into more socially and environmentally friendly ones.