Consumption and life-styles: a short introduction

Intro -- Contents -- List of Figures -- Chapter 1 Introduction -- Abstract -- References -- Chapter 2 Consumption: Different Perspectives and Academic Responsibilities -- Abstract -- References -- Chapter 3 Consumption Within the History of Economic and Social Thought -- Abstract -- References -- Chapter 4 Consumption, Lifestyles and Taste -- Abstract -- Lifestyles and Social Stratification -- Taste and Fashion -- References -- Chapter 5 Conspicuous Consumption -- Abstract -- The Social Construction of Beauty -- Preferences: Variability and Stability -- References -- Chapter 6 Culture, Advertising and Consumption -- Abstract -- Advertising and Society in Perspective -- Global Consumer Culture and Advertising -- Homogenization and Heterogenization Within Consumption -- References -- Chapter 7 Gender and Social Relations of Consumption -- Abstract -- Gender and Consumption from a Historical Perspective -- The Social Relations of Consumption -- Gender, Consumption and "Engineered" Needs -- References -- Chapter 8 Money, Consumption and Happiness -- Abstract -- Perspectives on Happiness -- The Economic Perspective -- The Sociological Perspective -- Consumption and Happiness -- A Paradox: Do Money and Consumption Matter for Happiness -- References -- Chapter 9 In Times of Globalization: Gift Giving and the McDonaldization of Consumption -- Abstract -- References -- Bibliography -- Index.