Consumption Culture and Fair Development in China

Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Perspectives on Sustainable Growth book series (POSG)

Abstract

In this chapter, I build on four basic ideas: (a) savings, consumption and economic growth, (b) Chinese culture and consumption, (c) the role of citizens as consumers, and (d) alternative consumption patterns. I then frame these ideas as a circle of consumption that begins with traditional lifestyles based on sustainability and frugality, transforms into conspicuous consumption among members of an emerging middle class, and turns back toward more sustainable practices once a certain level of economic development has been achieved.

Keywords

Development Culture Consumption Anti-consumption China 
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Hanken School of EconomicsHelsinkiFinland

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