Provide detail answer to the following questions based on our in-class discussions and Chapters 3 to 6 of Julie Schor's The Overspent American. Where possible, please incorporate your personal views and experience.

1. Juliet Schor suggests (see pages 60 and 61) a very simple method for calculating the annual costs of status purchases for American society.Take any status consumption good of your choosing and calculate its annual cost to society using this method. Be sure to cite your information sources for price and annual consumption rates.I suggest using the internet, marketing briefs, consumer organizations' reports, public financial statements, business census data, or personal experience. Make sure to acknowledge any other costs you are not accounting for in your estimations.
2. What is the difference between needs and desires? Describe the cycle of desire portrayed by Juliet Schor in her book and give an example.Do you agree with her depiction?
3. According to Juliet Schor, why is Television such a dangerous influence on consumption in America?What role do luxury good advertisements play in this, are they the main problem?What about the TV shows themselves?Do you agree with Schor's point of view? Can you think of an example of how your favorite TV show may induce you to overspend (be specific)?
4. What does it mean to have an escalation mentality?What are some of the most quoted practical reasons justifying this phenomenon (give at least three)? In your opinion, are they valid?Can you think of any ways to brake away from these rationales?
5. Describe three modern counter-consumerism movements (discussed in the text or from alternative sources). Which of these movements would you be most likely to join? What do you think would be the biggest challenges you will encounter when doing so? How would you face these challenges?
6. Juliet Schor presents in her book nine ways in which people can get off the consumer escalator. Describe the two that you believe to be the most effective of the set. In your opinion, what makes them so effective? Which one do you think is less likely to work for you or for most people? Describe it and state what makes it so ineffective?