Consumption in the Age of Affluence

With growing affluence in the developed world, food has become an increasing focus for attention. In this text, the authors argue that in order to understand the extensive and dramatic developments in the world of food, a new interdisciplinary approach is necessary. “The Age of Affluence” addresses food consumption in this way. The volume argues the importance of socio-economic and cultural factors over diet, in influencing the production, marketing and consumption of different groups of foods. It places food systems theory on sound analytical foundations and draws critically upon food systems literature. The text includes case studies from the sugar, dairy and meat systems and employs statistical techniques to identify and explain distinct patterns of food consumption. The book aims to help to revitalize the discipline of food studies and point the way forward for the continuing study of food consumption. As such, it should be useful to students, researchers and policymakers engaged in the world of food.

Author Biography

Ben Fine is Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for Economic Policy for Southern Africa at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. His previous work includes The World of Consumption with Ellen Leopold and was published by Routledge in 1993. Michael Heasman is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Food Policy, Thames Valley University, London. He has researched widely on different aspects of the food economy. Judith Wright is a Research Officer at the Social Statistics Research Unit, City University. She has undertaken research using a variety of large social survey datasets.