Consumptionomics: Asia's Role in Reshaping Capitalism and Saving the Planet

by Chandrain Nair

Consumption has been the fuel that has driven the engine of global capitalism. The recent financial crisis has seen the West's leading economists and policy makers urging Asia to make a conscious effort to consume more and thereby help save the global economy. This is a view shaped by conventional wisdom which conveniently refuses to acknowledge both the uncomely effects of consumption and the limits to growth. Consumptionomics argues that this blinkered view needs to be replaced by a more rational approach to the challenges of the 21st century. If Asians aspire to consumption levels taken for granted in the West, the results would be environmentally catastrophic across the globe. Needless to say, it will also have significant geopolitical impacts as nations scramble for diminishing resources.

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Ieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not quite a fan of the way this book is written, and many will agree. Too much repetition, overly extended and all in all leaves me feeling as I am reading a self - help book or anything of that sort. Half way I started skipping paragraphs, as it got too boring.
But - I still rate the book at 4 stars, and would go even 4,5 if I could. All that is because of the content - the ideas, that Chandrain Nair has put forward are clear, straightforward, and to my mind, inspiring and life - changing. Ever since I have started to read this book, my attitude has changed 180 degrees, and only a good book could ever achieve that.
Definitely suggest.

[Wendy Dodds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was written in 2011 and only now has any awareness of the need to slow consumption in the West starting to register with governments and the mainstream media. If things are being done differently in Asia we are yet to hear about it. Yes resource use needs to be restrained and consumption slowed but the monied few have a lot invested in the status quo and they won't give up their love of growth without a struggle. All the majority of people in the West can do is limit their consumption but this will mean that those in Asia who depend on providing the West with consumer goods will lose their livelihoods. What happens then? Dismantling all this is not going to be pretty.

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed the other book by this author I read more than this one. I always read the articles I see by him posted on Pearls and Irritations. He generally has very interesting things to say, particularly about Asia and the West’s relationship with Asia. And this book is on exactly that.

He is arguing that environmental destruction and global heating mean that we will not be able to give everyone on the planet the lifestyles of those in the rich world. Economies based on consumption – a word with an interesting set of meanings, from purchasing goods to also setting something alight – are going to have to come to an end if we are to save the planet. He believes the greatest hope for this is Asia, which still has time to resist consumerism and to find other ways to have a good life that will not automatically mean the end of the planet.

He thinks that environmentalists are often too strident in their demands and this makes their demands seem so unreasonable that people are put off and then do nothing. He says that we would be better off if we were more pragmatic – shifting our focus to risk minimisation. This would mean that we could act now in ways that will make a difference without frightening the horses, so to speak.

I think if I was going to recommend a book on this topic it might be Bauman’s Consuming Life – but this was worth reading and, given how urgent the topic is, something you should consider reading. I think that his main hypothesis, that the West is unlikely to do much to save the world, is probably right – although, I do not know how much hope I have that the East will make a better job of it than we have.

[Nitin Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where governments are constantly pushing for GDP growth and businesses have no other 'service' but push for consumption, Chandran's book is a gentle reminder of this attitude and why it doesn't make business or environmental sense to push on the current model. Even someone with a non-business background will get some important insights from this book!

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite sure why I read this book, I don't really have any interest in economics, and so ended up putting it down and then picking it up over time. It was a bit dry, but many of the solutions offered did seem somewhat unrealistic when looking at human nature.

[T.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book that should be read by all politicians.