Busyness, Status Distinction and Consumption Strategies of the Income Rich, Time Poor

This article concerns the dilemma of consumption for those income-rich, time-poor households who live in the contemporary affluent economies of the West. Following Linder, two ‘temporal strategies of consumption’ are proposed, reflected in the consumption profiles of high status groups. Th e first is ‘voracious’ consumption, denoting a fast ‘pace’ and variety of leisure participation. The second is inconspicuous consumption—the purchasing of expensive consumer goods without the time to use them or the primary intent to display them. From a political economic perspective a solution is provided as to how to increase consumer spending among those with high disposable incomes and little leisure time.