Consumer societies: systemic and total character of the crisis

The continuous process of expansion of new needs becomes a key characteristic feature of the post-industrial economy. Consumption turns from the use of goods for satisfaction of the vital activity needs into the vital activity proper. In the process of social interaction it becomes a factor of identity construction. Man lives only to consume, but not visa versa: consumes to live. The rise in the comforts of life leads to changes in the role of consumption processes in the society: there is movement from the category of satisfaction of needs to the category of making choice. The article considers 12 cases demonstrating the consumption crisis.