Scroogenomics : why you shouldn't buy presents for the holidays / Joel Waldfogel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Waldfogel, Joel, 1962-

Contributor:

James, Lloyd.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Consumption (Economics).

Gifts.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (187 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton : Princeton University Press, c2009.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

audio file

Summary:

Christmas is a time of seasonal cheer, family get-togethers, holiday parties, and-gift giving. Lots and lots--and lots--of gift giving. It's hard to imagine any Christmas without this time-honored custom. But let's stop to consider the gifts we receive--the rooster sweater from Grandma or the singing fish from Uncle Mike. How many of us get gifts we like? How many of us give gifts not knowing what recipients want? Did your cousin really look excited about that jumping alarm clock? Lively and informed, Scroogenomics illustrates how our consumer spending generates vast amounts of economic waste--to the shocking tune of eighty-five billion dollars each winter. Economist Joel Waldfogel provides solid explanations to show us why it's time to stop the madness and think twice before buying gifts for the holidays. When we buy for ourselves, every dollar we spend produces at least a dollar in satisfaction, because we shop carefully and purchase items that are worth more than they cost. Gift giving is different. We make less-informed choices, max out on credit to buy gifts worth less than the money spent, and leave recipients less than satisfied, creating what Waldfogel calls "deadweight loss." Waldfogel indicates that this waste isn't confined to Americans--most major economies share in this orgy of wealth destruction. While recognizing the difficulties of altering current trends, Waldfogel offers viable gift-giving alternatives. By reprioritizing our gift-giving habits, Scroogenomics proves that we can still maintain the economy without gouging our wallets, and reclaim the true spirit of the holiday season.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

Preface

CHAPTER ONE. Introduction

CHAPTER TWO. Spending and Satisfaction

CHAPTER THREE. U.S. Holiday Spending

CHAPTER FOUR. How Much Waste Occurs at Christmas?

CHAPTER FIVE. Why We Do It: Are Gift Recipients Crackheads, or What?

CHAPTER SIX. Giving and Waste around the World

CHAPTER SEVEN. A Century of American Yuletide Spending

CHAPTER EIGHT. Have Yourself a Borrowed Little Christmas

CHAPTER NINE. Is Christmas Like Spam, Underwear, or Caviar?

CHAPTER TEN. Christmas and Commercialism: Are Santa and Jesus on the Same Team? If So, Who's Team Captain?

CHAPTER ELEVEN. Stop Carping; It's All for the Best

CHAPTER TWELVE. Making Giving More Effi cient with Cash and Gift Cards

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. Giving and Redistribution

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. Solutions-Making Gift Giving a Force for Good

Notes

Index

Participant:

Narrator: Lloyd James.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9786612935695

9786612298301

9781400831258

1400831253

9781282935693

1282935690

9781282298309

1282298305

9781400830749

1400830745

OCLC:

505429022