1. The Dangers of Conspicuous Consumption
Modernity and capitalist expansion are tied to growth in a number of ways.
Capitalism – growth is tied to production and consumption, leading to a host of additional issues
Modernity – growth is tied to advancement in a variety of spheres, such as sciences
What are the pros and cons of modernity, and what issues do we have to look out for as aspects of modernity shift over time?

2. The Dangers of Conspicuous Consumption
How has the world’s fertility rate changed in the past 3 centuries?
Global Fertility Rate
Year: Births per woman
1700: 6.0
1800: 6.0
1900: 5.2
1950: 5.0
2000: 2.7
2050: 2.0
2100: 2.0

3. The Dangers of Conspicuous Consumption
Global Life Expectancy Rates Over Time
Year: Life expectancy
1700: 27 yrs
1800: 27 yrs
1900: 30 yrs
1950: 47 yrs
2000: 65 yrs
2050: 74 yrs
2100: 81 yrs

4. The Dangers of Conspicuous Consumption
With education, industrialization, and improved health care, proportion of young decreases; proportion of old increases in societies.
Year: % < age 15
1700: 36%
1800: 36%
1900: 35%
1950: 34%
2000: 30%
2050: 20%
2100: 18%
Year: % > age 65
1700: 4%
1800: 4%
1900: 4%
1950: 5%
2000: 7%
2050: 16%
2100: 21%
Percentage world population under age 15
Percentage world population over age 65

5. The Dangers of Conspicuous Consumption
How much has the world’s population grown in the past 3 centuries?
World population in billions
Year: Population
1700: 0.68
1800: 0.98
1900: 1.65
1950: 2.52
2000: 6.07
2050: 8.92
2100: 9.46
Is global population growth at this rate sustainable?

6. The Dangers of Conspicuous Consumption
Commodity Fetishism
Conspicuous Consumption
Population growth/explosion coupled with consumer societies may not bode well for our future.
If bigger populations are consuming more and commodity fetishism is increasing, businesses will fill these increasing desires/needs.
In a capitalist culture, businesses’ main objective is to profit, so they will create greater desire/demand for products.
Our environment has limited resources to make these products.

7. The Dangers of Conspicuous Consumption
Historical and contemporary violence

8. The Dangers of Conspicuous Consumption
“Asian slave labour producing prawns for supermarkets in US, UK”

9. The Dangers of Conspicuous Consumption
What can we do to stop our skyrocketing consumption rates?