PostsArchive - Archive for the year 2008
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The economic crisis and the consumer
Tuesday, 2 December, 2008
Around the planet, a vast majority of people have reduced their discretionary spending, both with regards to consumer goods, such as clothing, and for major purchases such as home appliances, a vehicle or a house. As reported in a Washington Post article, Economist Peter Morici from University of Maryland states that «What consumers are not […]
Read the rest of this postBursting of the consumption bubble
Tuesday, 25 November, 2008This column is subsequent to two radio interviews broadcasted today, Tuesday November 25 2008: the first with host Christiane Charette on Radio-Canada (95.1 FM), the second with host Michel Gailloux on Radio Ville-Marie (91.3 FM). The rise of luxury leads to excess both from the consumer and the producer. This is the central theme of […]
Read the rest of this postNational Do Not Call List
Monday, 13 October, 2008If, like a good many people, you are exasperated by unwanted telemarketing calls, a solution is now available. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has established a National Do Not Call List (DNCL) (). Since September 30, you may register your residential, wireless, fax or VoIP telephone number directly on the DNCL Web site. […]
Read the rest of this postConsumption of financial products: Caution!
Thursday, 2 October, 2008I wish to make it clear right away that what follows strictly applies to stock market investments. According to experts, Canadian banks are strong and amounts invested in bonds, bank accounts, guaranteed investment certificates and other similar tools are safe. If you are unsure about the nature of your investment, contact your financial institution or […]
Read the rest of this postHyperconsumption and the global financial crisis
Sunday, 28 September, 2008For many years, I have warned people against the misdeeds of hyperconsumption; for many, daily life is centered on purchasing increasingly luxurious goods and services, first of all for one’s pleasure, a fleeting satisfaction. In fact, the evanescence of contentment procured by consumption is also what has allowed excessive consumption to rise. Once purchased, the […]
Read the rest of this postWild fluctuations in the price of gasoline
Friday, 12 September, 2008In Le prix de l’essence laisse songeur, an article published Thursday September 11 in La Presse, journalist Hélène Baril states: «During the last week, the price of a litre of regular gasoline has fallen by almost 4 cents in Toronto and only 0.6 cent in Montreal. » The article goes on reporting justifications from various […]
Read the rest of this postConsumption and technology
Sunday, 7 September, 2008My next book, whose publishing (in French at first) is planned for winter of 2009, will focus on consumption and technology; here’s a glimpse of its content. In our hyperconsumption society, technological development is essentially dictated by commercial considerations, the first of which being the necessity for manufacturers to differentiate their products from their competitors’. […]
Read the rest of this postComparing the price of gasoline between Montreal and Paris
Saturday, 30 August, 2008I wish that with each new rise in the price of gasoline, some people would cease to comfort consumers telling them that gasoline is still much less expensive in Canada than in Europe.On August 30 in Paris, one could find regular gasoline (SP95) at 1,399 € per litre (French Ministry of economy) while on August […]
Read the rest of this postConsumption and commerce are essential
Thursday, 3 April, 2008In my writings and my public position, I criticize several aspects of consumption, especially excesses on the part of consumers and speculation on the part of sellers. However, I am in no way against the consumption and I do not preach in favour of self deprivation or hard core simple living. These solutions are so […]
Read the rest of this postResults of the mini survey about Mega shopping centers
Tuesday, 18 March, 2008Since the televised debate on «Il va y avoir du sport», on the theme «For or against Mega shopping centers», some expressed their surprise seeing me present the positive aspects of Mega shopping centers. It is rather curious because I have never been moralizing towards consumption; as I write in my blog presentation, «I claim […]
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