tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172766774137902766.post5505584974323428814..comments2023-12-23T09:28:20.869+00:00Comments on The View from Cullingworth: The consumer society is a consequence of freedomUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172766774137902766.post-89971240880308335732013-07-21T10:15:46.831+01:002013-07-21T10:15:46.831+01:00Interesting article, as ever, Simon.
On one level...Interesting article, as ever, Simon.<br /><br />On one level I completely agree with you. Consumption is absolutely at the heart of a healthy society. Not only do we enjoy consumption, which of course is a good thing in its own right, but consumption also contributes to a growing economy and to technological improvements.<br /><br />So yes, let's celebrate consumption.<br /><br />However, I don't think concerns about what effects unfettered consumption might have on the planet can be as easily brushed aside as you seem to think. The fact is that we live on a planet with finite resources and a growing population. If we're not careful, we're going to run out of stuff and pump way too much C02 into the atmosphere.<br /><br />Does that mean we have to restrict consumption? Absolutely not. But it does mean that we need to be a bit careful about what kinds of consumption are encouraged. We need to move to a more "weightless" pattern of consumption.<br /><br />And the problem is that free markets are not very good at dealing with that sort of problem. I'm sure you're familiar with the concept of "the tragedy of the commons". <br /><br />I'm pretty sure that at some point in the future we're going to be in a bit of a mess without some kind of government intervention. Obviously we don't want government to dictate what kind of consumption we can have and what kind we can't have, but some nudges towards a more weightless pattern -- perhaps with extra taxes for the most environmentally damaging forms and subsidies for the most environmentally friendly forms -- are going to be necessary.<br /><br />If those kinds of government interventions can be done at a very broad level, I dare say the free market will take care of the rest.Adamnoreply@blogger.com