Idea of progress: to what extent have mass consumption and consumerism made people happier?

Introduction :

• I am going to talk about the notion « idea of progress ». Firstly I am going to defined  this notion: The idea of progress can be defined as an improvement, a development or a change - a technical, scientific or social advance which contributes to making the world a better place.
• Furthermore, to illustrate this notion we are going to speak of consumerism and mass consumption.

-Mass consumption is the act of buying to satisfy our needs and desires

-Consumerism is over consumption. Today, we live in a consumption society.

• I go to answer reply at the prolem : To what extent have mass consumption and consumerism made people happier?
• In a first part we will see the advantages and the drawbacks of mass consumption and in second time the reactions to the excesses of mass consumption.

I- the advantages and the drawbacks of mass consumption

• First of all we will see the advantages and drawbacks of mass consumption. In fact there are some positive effects, particularly for the economy. There is more industrial production and many varieties of goods. Employment opportunities and living conditions are also better.
• However, we must be careful because this phenomenon can increase ecological imbalances and depletion of natural resources.
• People are become addicted to shopping and compulsive spending.

II- the reactions to the excesses of mass consumption.

• Reacting to hyper-consumerism, some people are setting up new systems to build a sustainable society.

• This new phenomenon may stem from either the need to spend less due to the economic recession. There are several means such as exchanging goods, renting goods and bartering goods to take part in collaborative consumption.

Conclusion :

• To conclude, I can say the climate is changing and we can’t survive a long time like that.
• That’s why governments must take actions, reject consumerism and our entire way of life.
•  But I think that it’s difficult for the population to accept this changing. Because the development of large shopping malls, advertisements and the Internet contribute creating a consumer society, where people are become materialist, eternally dissatisfied and act like fanatics.

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