Why do we consume so much? #Consumerism #CircularEconomy #LSE

Why do we buy so much stuff, and what would it take to break the cycle of overconsumption?

Find out more in this month's episode of our LSE iQ podcast:

In this episode of LSE iQ, Sue Windebank explores the social, psychological and economic forces that encourage us to keep buying, when many of the things that we own could be repaired, reused, or shared.

Drawing on research in India, Julia Cohen (Corwin) from LSE's Department of Geography shares stories from Delhi's thriving repair and reuse economy, where skilled traders and repairers breathe new life into printer cartridges, laptop batteries and electronic devices that might otherwise be discarded.

Frédéric Basso, from LSE’s Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science, explains some of the ways consumer culture encourages us to keep buying, from planned obsolescence, rapid product cycles and targeted marketing.

The episode also explores how ultra-cheap online shopping has accelerated overconsumption. Lilia Akatova, from the LSE Centre for Economic Transition Expertise, explains how a customs duty exemption for low-value imports helped fuel a surge in parcels arriving directly from China, and discusses efforts by governments to curb the flow of low-cost goods.