Positional Goods
Today I've seen an interesting piece of journal. Link provided below.
http://business.theage.com.au/business/rich-get-richer-but-are-the-poor-that-poorer-20090508-ay48.html?page=1
Do we need positional goods to lead a good life?
While I'm sure there is no clear cut answer for that matter, it is believed that positional goods are a component towards self actualization according to Maslow.
I hear the following statement from time to time -
Don't marry someone unless he/she owns a house/2bd apartment, a BMW or higher class of vehicle & has a decent job that provides enough for a household of 8.
In the current society, it seems to me that there is no harm to obtain various positional goods. In fact, it appears that positional goods can be a stepping stone for achieve different goals, eg. a nicer job, a more stable neighbourhood, better circle of friends and many more status related stuff.
While I do not disagree the meaning of positional goods, I believe some people have gone beyond the fundamentals meaning of purchasing positional goods. For example, a guy in my class wears the same designer brand everday and cost roughly 10000+ AUD from his head to toe everyday.
Instantly, all the status has gone into the bin as those goods together do not appear to be glamorous or otherwise, they are each fine individual pieces.
Perhaps money does help for status in one's life, but there is various requirements that need to be satisfied. For the very fundamental, at least one will need to know how to use those money correctly, simply buying tons of positional goods do not necessary means achieving better status. In fact, it usually leads to the opposite.
PS to that guy: Think twice before you put on your bad matched LV equipments, a gold LV necklace, LV bracelet, LV shoes, LV belt, LV sunglass, oversized LV bag, LV Wallet, LV blah blah blah... Not even the people on the runway do that....
http://business.theage.com.au/business/rich-get-richer-but-are-the-poor-that-poorer-20090508-ay48.html?page=1
Do we need positional goods to lead a good life?
While I'm sure there is no clear cut answer for that matter, it is believed that positional goods are a component towards self actualization according to Maslow.
I hear the following statement from time to time -
Don't marry someone unless he/she owns a house/2bd apartment, a BMW or higher class of vehicle & has a decent job that provides enough for a household of 8.
In the current society, it seems to me that there is no harm to obtain various positional goods. In fact, it appears that positional goods can be a stepping stone for achieve different goals, eg. a nicer job, a more stable neighbourhood, better circle of friends and many more status related stuff.
While I do not disagree the meaning of positional goods, I believe some people have gone beyond the fundamentals meaning of purchasing positional goods. For example, a guy in my class wears the same designer brand everday and cost roughly 10000+ AUD from his head to toe everyday.
Instantly, all the status has gone into the bin as those goods together do not appear to be glamorous or otherwise, they are each fine individual pieces.
Perhaps money does help for status in one's life, but there is various requirements that need to be satisfied. For the very fundamental, at least one will need to know how to use those money correctly, simply buying tons of positional goods do not necessary means achieving better status. In fact, it usually leads to the opposite.
PS to that guy: Think twice before you put on your bad matched LV equipments, a gold LV necklace, LV bracelet, LV shoes, LV belt, LV sunglass, oversized LV bag, LV Wallet, LV blah blah blah... Not even the people on the runway do that....
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