1. Economics and the Age of the consumer
By Sarah Nichols
The 1920 was an age of economic prosperity fostered by laissez-faire policies and innovation, but at the same time, it was accompanied by the deterioration of inner cities and environmental degradation.

2. Economic Expansion 40% of worlds total wealth in America
SUPPORTS BUSINESS
Laissez-faire, federal government
Low interest rates
Pent-up demand- construction and building etc.
Helps create an environment for consumerism and economic growth in the U.S., helps to establish the US as an economic powerhouse

3. 40% of worlds total wealth in America

4. Economic Expansion- 2
Tools that furthered industry and economic expansion, making the trend of consumerism economically feasible and profitable
Mechanization
Machines replace handwork
Use of power increases: US produces more electricity than rest of world
( ) Industrial output almost doubles
Rationalization
Simplify complex processes
Interchangeable parts
Moving assembly line- Henry Ford (pre WW1)
Frederick Taylor: time-motion studies
“Taylorism” / standardization

5. Mechanization and Rationalization
Electricity
Assembly line

6. Age of the Consumer Bruce Barton, The Man Nobody Knows (1925)
Advertising and salesmanship/ “Jesus founder of modern business”
Attractive goods/ changing models
Installment plans
Inventions / technological advances : refrigerators, motion pictures (multipliers), not seen as necessary appliances but were produced and sold at high volume

8. Age of the Consumer-examples
1920s – Automobile
1929, 23 million private cars / average 1 per family
Manufacture of auto products
Consumption, rubber, paint, glass, nickel, petroleum products
Road-building program: 662,000 miles- 1929
Increased employment / growth of tourism
Encouraged amateur mechanics and explorers
Increased travel comfort and speed

9. 1919

10. Age of the Consumer-3
Cars became symbols: freedom, prosperity, individualism
Owning an automobile over a house
Undesirable results
Scenery ruined: gas stations / billboards
Traffic jams
Accidents
Air pollution
Neglect of public transportation: deterioration of inner cities

11. UNDESIRABLE RESULTS
-spoiled scenery
- Inner city deterioration

12. Conclusion
The 1920s led to great economic and technical advances however the impact on the environment and inner city life was a determent to American society. With the invention of the automobile everyday Americans saw more of the U.S. than most previous generations could have dreamed of. Although owning an automobile was seen as important because it increased a persons opportunities and showed wealth. As consumerism began to spread through the U.S. and became vital to sustaining the post-war economy, America became increasingly a consumer based economy which we still see today.