http://cultureby.com/2009/11/no-new-normal.html This Blog Sits At the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:10:58 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://cultureby.com/2009/11/no-new-normal.html/comment-page-1#comment-37 Patrick Pearce Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:13:05 +0000 http://grantmccracken.com/cco/http:/grantmccracken/page-title#comment-37 <p>Like it's 1999? I'm not sure. I agree that frugality is not a norm and that consumers will always aspire to enhance their lives, whether that means home renovating or jumping on the new Jimmy Choo shoes at H&M and living for a time in the shoes of Sex & the City's Carrie. I believe however that Western consumers have learned something from excesses of the recent meltdown, have gained a sense of responsibility, and now factoring consequences - financial and external - into their consumption decisions. They will continue spending, but will spend more effectively.</p> Like it's 1999? I'm not sure. I agree that frugality is not a norm and that consumers will always aspire to enhance their lives, whether that means home renovating or jumping on the new Jimmy Choo shoes at H&M and living for a time in the shoes of Sex & the City's Carrie. I believe however that Western consumers have learned something from excesses of the recent meltdown, have gained a sense of responsibility, and now factoring consequences – financial and external – into their consumption decisions. They will continue spending, but will spend more effectively.

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