Consumerism is a social and economic order in which the acquisition of goods and services beyond those that are necessary for survival or for traditional displays of status is a desirable goal. It is the idea that increasing the consumption of goods and services purchased in the market is always a desirable goal, and that a persons well-being and happiness depend fundamentally on obtaining consumer goods and material possessions.

Consumerism has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. In economics, consumerism refers to the theory that consumer spending is the principal driver of economic growth and a central measure of the productive success of a society. In this sense, consumerism is a positive phenomenon that fuels economic growth. However, others view the drive to obtain more material possessions as problematic, causing individual anxiety and eroding the social fabric.

In common use, consumerism refers to the tendency of people living in a capitalist economy to engage in a lifestyle of excessive materialism that revolves around reflexive, wasteful, or conspicuous overconsumption. This type of consumerism is widely understood to contribute to the destruction of traditional values and ways of life, consumer exploitation by big business, environmental degradation, and negative psychological effects.

Consumerism can also refer to efforts by private organizations and governments to protect the interests of consumers by seeking improvements in the quality of certain types of consumer goods, alterations in the methods used to produce them, or the elimination of business practices that are unfair or detrimental to consumers.

In summary, consumerism is a complex concept that can have both positive and negative effects on individuals and society. While it can fuel economic growth, it can also contribute to environmental degradation, consumer exploitation, and negative psychological effects.