Economic Theory essays

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Essay on Materialism and Consumerism in the 1920s

Money doesn't buy happiness. Throughout history, this concept has been heard time and time again and has been proven to be true. People can continuously purchase material items, but in the end, those items can never satisfy a person's innate need for love and connection. As people buy such objects, they are making a poor attempt at filling a missing void in their lives. In the 1920s, this idea began to lose its significance as society became swept up in...
3 Pages 1242 Words

Into the Wild' Materialism Essay

A tragic hero can be defined as a “great or virtuous character who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat” (Dictionary.com). In Sean Penn’s film Into The Wild, the protagonist, Christopher McCandless ventures away from home in seek of freedom from the world which is surrounded by materials and wealth. Growing up in a household that idealized success in the form of education and income, Christopher inevitably leaves this behind to find true happiness. This call to adventure he receives...
3 Pages 1521 Words

Essay on Materialism and Greed in D. H. Lawrence's Short Story 'The Rocking-Horse Winner'

Money is one of the most significant fundamental factors that influence social customs; it makes people greedy and corrupt; even worse, it causes family collapse. Due to the background of 'The Rocking-Horse Winner', it is the period of Western industrial civilization where materialism is extraordinarily prevalent and money is the symbol of social status. In the introductory paragraph, Lawrence makes it clear that the story will revolve around money or lack of it. Through the following plot, it is not...
2 Pages 1043 Words

Theme of Materialism and Its Negative Consequences in John Steinbeck's Novel ‘The Pearl’: Critical Essay

The more highly people endorse materialistic values, the more they experience unpleasant emotions, depression, and anxiety. The novel ‘The Pearl’, written by John Steinbeck in 1944, follows an allegory that poignantly and succinctly teaches the reader about the negative consequences of materialism. ‘The Pearl’ is about a Mexican Indian pearl diver named Kino who finds a valuable pearl and is transformed by the evil it attracts. When the townsfolk of La Paz learn of Kino’s find, he is immediately set...
2 Pages 735 Words

Materialism as a Trend in Modern Society: Persuasive Essay

Have you ever followed a trend? Are you a materialistic person? Do you use materials and objects, such as money, phones, car, and luxurious items to receive happiness? Everyone at one point in their lives would have desired to want something or wanted to be like the people around them. For example, to feel better, to look better, to convey a status symbol whether it may be TikTok, AirPods, or property. Materialism is when a person is so assigned to...
2 Pages 958 Words

Materialism, Loneliness and the Problem with Capitalism

As a wise person once said, shopping is cheaper than a therapist. Is that statement actually truthful though? Every year thousands, maybe even millions, of Americans fall into the dangerous cycle of materialism due to loneliness. Buying unnecessary and trivial products hoping that they will make their life just a little bit better. Later on, they realize the purchase of those items only gives a short, fleeting feeling of satisfaction. As the high they experience from the purchase dies down,...
3 Pages 1231 Words

Effects of Mercantilism on the Netherlands, France and Britain: Essay

The word ‘mercantilism’ is a term that most economists would define as a theory; this is based on the idea that the world’s total wealth was static and strongly supported government intervention in regulating trade through commercial (protectionist) policies to protect domestic firms and economic growth. If executed effectively, it should result in a country’s GDP increasing whilst producing a trade surplus. The Effects of Mercantilism on the Netherlands When looking back at history, the theory of ‘mercantilism’ was first...
6 Pages 2729 Words

Mercantilist Beliefs among Sugar Plantations and the Slave Trade: Essay

Mercantilism is economic framework created amid the rot of feudalism to bring together and increase the influence and particularly the money related abundance of a country by strict administrative guideline of the whole national economy as a rule through policy strategy intended to verify accumulation of bullion, an ideal equalization of exchange, the improvement of agribusiness and manufactures, and the foundation of outside restraining infrastructures and monopolies. Around then, mercantilism thus assumed that potential of making their motherlands rich. It...
2 Pages 802 Words

Is Mercantilism an Effective Form of Growth in Modern Economies: Essay

To begin with, the key question for modern growth, however, is this: ‘Does mercantilism still exist?’. In many developing nations, under one-party rule or managed by huge bureaucracies guided by industrial policies, the answer is undoubtedly, yes. On the other hand, in the modern economies, where tax reporting and collection are fairly efficient, mercantilism is much less in evidence. However, this idea of mercantilism was at its peak during the 16th-18th centuries. This time period is also known as the...
3 Pages 1502 Words

I Am a Materialistic

The concept of materialism involves predominantly focusing on tangible items over intellectual or spiritual values (‘Materialism’). The majority of today’s adolescents can be identified as the most materialistic generation in history, as many of us are extremely conscious of our social status and our self-worth is driven by our material possessions. However, the obsession of engaging in social comparison with others over material belongings can ultimately lead to consequences for the individual. I have a materialistic mindset because I believe...
1 Page 687 Words

The Pros and Cons of Mercantilism

Mercantilism is one of classical theories in international political economy (IPE) along with economic liberalism and neo-Marxism. Mercantilism believes the world is in struggle of power and security between each national interest, in order to grow their economy, they need to limit the imported goods by using tariffs while at the same time increasing their export instead (List, 1841), and also without the existence of hegemonic power the liberal world economy will not exist (Gilpin, 1987). This theory is the...
1 Page 623 Words

How Does Liberalism Compare with Mercantilism

International Political Economy The international political economy is the convergence of political and economic powers to produce a particular set of forces and dynamics in the world. The contemporary global system can be explained through three theoretical paradigms of Liberalism, Mercantilism, and Marxism. They are essential in understanding the characteristics of the economic system and the challenges it faces. This essay will explore the fundamental political and economic ideas or assumptions that underpin each of the key theoretical perspectives as...
5 Pages 2398 Words

Reflections on How Materialism Led to the Development of a Two-Dimensional Society

In ‘The Century of the Self’, Adam Curtis sketches a broad image on the insights of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, his daughter and child psychologist Anna and his cousin Edward Bernays, who can be called the founder of public relations. In 4 parts the documentary lays out the influence of the above-mentioned in governments and societies, which mostly happened through manipulation and consumerism. Edward Bernays is called the father of public relations because of his ability to get the mass to...
4 Pages 1797 Words

The Impact of Consumerism and Materialism on Modern American Society

For numerous amount of years, people have been compulsive consumers as the economy influenced materialism. Consumerism is the act of advertisements for getting people to buy what they don’t need even though they don’t have money. Materialism is considering materialistic possession for physical comfort instead of spiritual values. Usually, providing dishonest advertising, consumerism tricks shoppers into thinking they have to have that product to maintain their happiness. Sometimes people fall for the tricks and sneaky words of advertisements. Consumerism and...
3 Pages 1462 Words

An Essay of the Negative Effects of Materialism

According to Srikant Manchiraju and Zlatan Krizan, materialism can be defined as “the importance an individual attaches to worldly possessions” (Manchiraju and Krizan, 90). A materialistic individual tends to believe that their earthly possessions and physical comfort are more important than their spiritual values. Certain belongings that a person with a materialistic viewpoint could put emphasis on include how nice their house is, what kind of car they drive, which type of cell phone they own, and how nice or...
3 Pages 1427 Words

The Problem of the Materialistic Nature of American Society

As time goes by the American dream is becoming exceedingly materialistic. I believe that the Americans have always been materialistic to a greater or lesser extent, but I’m very sure when I say, that the world has never been as materialistic as these recent years. If we take a look back in time people aspired of having a job that paid well, so they could live in a house in the suburbs and own one or two nice cars. That...
2 Pages 904 Words

Materialism as an Essential Problem of Modern American Society

Materialism has become part of human nature. It has been spread throughout history and evolved into an issue that will never cease to exist. However, this is no new discovery, materialism is not a new thing. It is displayed all over the media, in magazines, and in commercials. From the dawn of time, there has been an innate competition between human beings. Whether we admit to it or not, we all have the urge to be better than those around...
1 Page 626 Words

Theories Justifying International Trade

International trade emerged as a controversial concept that led to the creation of various theories to justify the adoption of the practice. International trade theories explain the exchange of goods and services between entities or people from two different nations. The trade between individuals and entities results from the belief in the possibilities of benefiting from exchanging goods and services (Viner, 2016). International trade constitutes a significant number of theories, business strategies, and policies. Comparative advantage is one of the...
2 Pages 1061 Words

Reflection on Whether Promotion Encourages Materialism

At present, many questions arise, while the promotion of various products makes us become materialistic. Advertisements promote materialism in several ways. The first is by creating new needs and desires among people. Advertisements also encourage people to compete with each other by purchasing more and better objects. Finally, advertisements often encourage consumers to replace their old possessions by purchasing the newest and best model. This fosters a ‘throwaway society’. Your business can oppose this materialism by offering products that are...
2 Pages 733 Words

Increasing Materialism Increases the Depression in Society

Physical needs and comfort are more considerably than spiritual values in materialism. Materialism is a term of social behavior and interactions by which many materialistic people are unsatisfied and stressful by seeing others having the latest things which are useable in their daily life more the needs. Materialism is just a mind satisfaction of an individual which he or she sees other people having things more than survival. In daily life we see many materialistic people who wants the best...
1 Page 487 Words

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