The history of consumption: A literature review and consumer guide

Abstract

The history of consumption is fast becoming a vital area of academic research. For the social sciences, in general, this new field promises new insight into the “great transformation” of Western society. For consumer research, in particular, it promises the opportunity to create new perspectives, sources of data, and theoretical concepts. The purpose of this paper is to review recent literature on the history of consumption, and to offer a consumer guide for those who wish to use it in the study of modern consumer behavior and policy.