But it is possible that buying genuine luxuries imposes an externality of its own. Status, after all, is a “positional” good. To be top of the social heap, it is not enough to have fine things. Your things need to be finer than everyone else’s. Someone who buys a more expensive watch or car to climb up the social ladder forces other social climbers to spend more to stay ahead. In making their purchase, they will carefully weigh how much prestige their big spending will buy. But they will not take into account how much extra everyone else will now have to spend to preserve their social position. As a result of these “arms races”, China may be overspending on luxury goods. Its shoppers account for only 6% of the world’s consumer spending, but, according to figures released by Bain Consulting last month, they now account for 20% of global sales of luxury goods.
La felicidad y la satisfacción en mucha gente, pasa por la mirada del vecino y no por el disfrute propio o con la familia. A algunos le da más placer subir las fotos de un viaje a Facebook que el viaje en sí mismo. No sé si está bien o mal, es un hecho, pero lo curioso es cuando los militantes del colectivismo, los socialistas o al menos los que promueven el socialismo para los demás, caen en esas "debilidades" de la carne. Demostrarle a los demás que uno está por encima del resto, un palo más arriba en el gallinero, utilizando algún símbolo de estatus (ropa, auto, casa, celular, reloj, viaje...).
Esto es Pueblo, Vacheron Constantin Patrimony, 25.000 dólares
Wachiturros usando Lacoste
ReplyDeleteNi disimulan.
ReplyDeleteUna grasada, costosa, pero grasada.
ReplyDelete