[QUOTE=anchorman;177033]China is trying to convert their economy to one that is more consumer driven, closer to that of the US as not to depend entirely on a manufacturing base driven by outside forces. Not that wanting or desiring “stuff” is what life is all about, but people buying stuff simply employs a lot of people.
I would argue that ownership of stuff does in-fact increase standard of living. Think of the time saved for family by having a washer and dryer, and not having the wife on the scrub board. You can correlate that to many things. It’s in most everyone’s interest that people with too much money buy stuff, stupid materialistic things, things that they may hardly use and certainly do not need. Who cares what materialist value is placed on that stuff, and what status it may ensue. At the end of the day, someone will be employed to facilitate that craziness, and will buy themselves a washer and dryer because of it.[/QUOTE]
Yes having washer, dryer and other things increase the family time, but maybe more important is working hours and holidays.
The car you drive and the size of your TV screen is not as important as the leisure time available and how you spend it.
Security and safety in the form of economy, health care, job security and not having to worry about crime is also part of quality of life.