Another IAS question...can you give me some points?

For IAS exam it is desirable to be armed with some basic statistics while answering such questions on Economics.

I would suggest to pick up some facts from McKinsey Global report according to which by 2025 65% of the private spending will spread to cities from the current 57% spread over rural areas. It means the buying power of the urban population in India will be 523 million -a figure which is greater in number than the whole population of Australia.

Now once this target is clearly identified, it becomes an advantageous situation for manufacturers and traders. All that they have to do is to "lure" the buyers or win them by effective advertising. Just imagine the average individual has reached a status of owning a TV, a two wheeler , a cell phone, a cool watch etc which were not possible 50 years ago. It means with rapid industrialisation and market forces moving across nations the effect of Globalization is visible.

Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods or services in ever greater amounts. One good example is the growth of shopping malls. A whole new generation of Indian citizens are on the make with a craze for spending and buying new products. As a consequence, you see fashions change. There are trend setters. There is the growing tendency for status display.

One of the famous quotes is In 1955, economist Victor Lebow stated:

“ "Our enormously productive economy demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction and our ego satisfaction in consumption. We need things consumed, burned up, worn out, replaced and discarded at an ever-increasing rate"

We have also developed a new consumer culture that we judge people by the brand products they use. We wish to wear a designer watch, drive an expensive car and wear designer clothes. As a general trend, regular consumers want to imitate those who are above them in the social ladder. The poor imitate the wealthy and the wealthy imitate celebrities and other icons. The celebrity endorsement of products reflects the the desire of modern consumers to purchase products partly or solely to emulate people of higher social status. This purchasing habit drives the consumer with a romantic idea of being an individualist.

You can also highlight some of the negative aspects of consumerism such as cultural hegemony. People form groups and relationships based on the products they use. A clear example is the "AMWAY" group. It is also said that consumers damage the environment.
Refer to Tirupur as good example. The textile town is unmindful of the water contamination and the damage caused to the agricultural community.

Likewise , you can go on adding more points...