• Entry
  • Reader's guide
  • Entries A-Z
  • Subject index
icon backReturn to Entries

Social and Economic Development

There is no natural or rational definition of what consumption is about and how and where social and economic development should take place. Our contemporary conception of consumption and the way it functions today in different parts of the world for different groups of people is the result of many practical and political choices that were made over time. One of the most influential choices was the institution of political economy, one of the core ideas of which was to link social and economic development.

The Myth of Progress

This link happened in Europe where, starting from the Middle Ages, growing attention was given to improving the material life of the masses and making better use of human labor. Gradually, political powers took a keen interest in ...

    • Loading...
    locked icon

    Sign in to access this content

    Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

    • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
    • Read modern, diverse business cases
    • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles