WHAT IS THE SCALE OF CONSUMERISM?

Figure 3

Figure 4

Consumerism is a world wide issue. China and India are the fastest growing consumer societies in the world, and together they make up 20% of the consuming world. In 2003, China experienced a 71% growth in automobile sales, which then rose further in 2004 by 15%. That same year India overtook China as they consumed 29% more vehicles. However USA is still the largest consuming country in the world, using more natural gases, seeds, oil, aluminium, rubber, corn, tin, coffee, zinc and lead than any other country. There is a significant difference in the amount of consumption currently experienced in affluent, developed countries as compared to under-developed, poorer nations.  According to Global Issue - Consumption and Consumerism, the “Inequalities in consumption are stark. Globally, the 20% of the world’s people in the highest-income countries account for 86% of total private consumption expenditures — the poorest 20% a minuscule 1.3%. More specifically, the richest fifth:

• Consume 45% of all meat and fish, the poorest fifth 5%

• Consume 58% of total energy, the poorest fifth less than 4%

• Have 74% of all telephone lines, the poorest fifth 1.5%

• Consume 84% of all paper, the poorest fifth 1.1%

• Own 87% of the world’s vehicle fleet, the poorest fifth less than 1%” (Unknown: Global issue - Consumption and Consumerism: 2014: Int)

This can be further seen in 2005 when 20% of the worlds wealthiest accounted for 76.6% of private consumption, where the poorest fifth is just 1.5%, (refer to figure 3 and how 10% accounted for just 0.5% and the wealthiest 10% accounted for 59% of all the consumption (refer to figure 4). “Runaway growth in consumption in the past 50 years is putting strains on the environment never before seen.” (Unknown: Global issue - Consumption and Consumerism: 2014: Int)