Consumption Takes Time: Implications for Economic Theory
In: The Graz Schumpeter Lectures
Standard economic theory of consumer behaviour considers consumers' preferences, their incomes and commodity prices to be the determinants of consumption. However, consumption takes time and no consumer has more - or less - than 168 hours per week. This simple fact is almost invisible in standard theory, and takes the centre stage in this book. Whether one is 'money-rich but time-poor' or is 'money-poor and killing time', both money and time considerations matter. Recognition that consumers are subject to both time and expenditure constraints makes a real difference to the economic theory