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Consumerism in post world war II

is fourth method was to increase supply of capital. Lastly, the state of the arts can be improved by technological innovation (Galbraith 120). Since technological advancements fuel greater production, it is in the companys best interest to invest in this area. That is why more capital was appropriated for technological research especially in the oil, metallurgy, automobiles, chemicals, rubber, and heavy engineering industries (Galbraith 121). The government clearly aided technological advancement throughout WWII. Overall, the 1950s was an era of increased production. This idea is supported by the rise in the Gross National Product. Starting in 1950 GNP was 284.8 billion dollars. This number skyrocketed to 483.7 billion dollars in 1959 (Pate 225). The concept of producing for economic security transforms into producing for consumers. Now that Americas production has satisfied the need for economic security, there remains . . . the task of justifying the resulting flow of goods (Galbraith 134). Consumerism is born. Production no longer fulfills peoples need for necessity but now it creates luxury. Before the 1950s production was meeting the needs of consumers necessities rather than excess. Food, clothing and homes were produced for the hungry, cold and homeless. But, with more wealth that craving transformed into a need for nicer cars and a more luxurious lifestyle (Galbraith 135). The cause of this change was the intention of the producer. What happened was that the process by which wants are satisfied [also became] the means that the process by which wants are created (Galbraith 135). The theory of consumer demand stemming from the increase in production became the basis of consumerism. The reason that Americans keep buying is because their needs are never satisfied. Ironically, . . . the urgency of wants does not diminish appreciably as more of them are satisfied . . . when man has satisfied his physical needs, then...

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