What role should consumerism play in our economy?
Consumerism influences the economics of both Canada and the U.S. It reflects some common values that shape the economies of both countries. This unit presents information about those values, and about different views and perspectives concerning the impact of consumerism on citizenship and quality of life. Consumerism is an economic theory that says the more people buy, the better it is for the economy. In economies based on consumerism, consumer behaviour plays a key role in economic decision-making.
* 9.2.5 Assess, critically, the relationship between consumerism and quality of life in Canada and the United States by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues;
* 9.2.5 Assess, critically, the relationship between consumerism and quality of life in Canada and the United States by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues;
Lesson #1 - What is Consumerism?
Success Criteria: Students will know the terms consumerism & boycott and be able to make connections between consumerism and their everyday lives.
What is Consumerism?
An economic theory that links prosperity to consumer demand for goods and services and that make consumer behaviour central to economic decision-making.
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Look at the photographs below (& pg. 239), what challenges and opportunities can consumerism create for society?
Discussion Questions
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Lesson #2 - Consumerism & Quality of Life
*What are the indicators of quality of life?
*What are the indicators of quality of life?
Success Criteria: Students will be able to identify the difference between Quality of Life and Standard of Living, and express this identification in blog format.
Quality of Life - A measure of personal and collective well-being. QOL has a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, politics, and employment.
Standard of Living - Refers to the level of wealth, comfort, material goods, and necessities available to a certain socioeconomic class in a certain geographic area. The SOL includes factors such as income, quality and availability of employment, poverty rate, affordability of housing, quality and availability of education, etc. Mind Map the following questions! What are some environmental pros and cons of consumerism What are some economical pros and cons of consumerism |
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Click Here for the Quality of Life Treasure Hunt handout!!!
Lesson #3 - Consumer Behaviours
* How does individual consumer behaviour impact quality of life?
* How does consumerism provide opportunities for and limitations on impacting quality of life?
* How does individual consumer behaviour impact quality of life?
* How does consumerism provide opportunities for and limitations on impacting quality of life?
Many teenagers have a job, or at least have a resume that they submit to employers to potentially acquire a job. Having a job means an income; your own personal money that you can often spend on things that you enjoy. So, if you dont already have a job, imagine that you do. You now have your own money and youre going to the mall to spend it. Consider the following questions:
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Make sure you have a copy of the following document - click here if you were absent or didn't get a handout!
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Lesson #4 - Marketing & Advertising
*How does marketing impact consumerism?
*How does marketing impact consumerism?
Success Criteria: Students will be able to deconstruct the explicit message of a political cartoon and build towards inferencing the implicit messages of both political cartoons and media advertising.
Explicit Messaging
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Implicit Messaging
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Lesson #5 - Economic Impacts of Consumerism
* To what extent do perspectives regarding consumerism, economic growth and quality of life differ regionally in North America?
* To what extent do perspectives regarding consumerism, economic growth and quality of life differ regionally in North America?
Success Criteria: Students will be able to identify ways in which income affects consumer behaviour and actions that influence economic decision-making in North America.