Social Exclusion in a Consumer Society: A Study of Five Rural Communities

Social Policy & Society, 2002, 1:3, 203-211

9 Pages Posted: 26 Dec 2015

See all articles by Colin Williams

Colin Williams

University of Sheffield - School of Management

Date Written: 2002

Abstract

The starting point of this paper is that the shift from a producer to a consumer society necessitates that social exclusion is investigated not only in relation to production but also consumption. To do this, case study evidence from interviews with 350 households in rural England is reported. This reveals that people define themselves as excluded from mainstream consumption not only when they are unable to acquire goods but also when they rely on informal and second-hand channels (e.g., car boot sales, second-hand shops) to obtain them. Social exclusion in consumer society is thus found to relate to not only non-possession but also exclusion from mainstream modes of goods acquisition.

Keywords: Informal sector, household work practices, livelihoods, economic development, England

JEL Classification: H26, J46, J48, K34, K42, O17

Suggested Citation

Williams, Colin, Social Exclusion in a Consumer Society: A Study of Five Rural Communities (2002). Social Policy & Society, 2002, 1:3, 203-211, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2708045

Colin Williams (Contact Author)

University of Sheffield - School of Management ( email )

15 Conduit Road
Sheffield, S10 1FL
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/management/staff/williams/index

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