Ecological Efficiency, Economic Efficiency and Time Efficiency in Private Consumption

Abstract

Consumerism is on the list of critical targets of ecological economists, but an economic theory of consumerism has still to be developed. The present paper intends to contribute to such a theory based on an institutionalist view of consumption as a social process and focussing on the interrelations between consumers as skilled social agents, infrastructures and institutions. In the present paper consumption is understood as the life-process encompassing all kinds of social activities necessary to the life-enjoyment objective of socialized and culturally determined individuals. In their consumption activities, individuals have to move between different types of institutions (the market, the firm, the state, personal relations, etc.) with the aim of successfully organizing their life-processes. Consumers are therefore potentially creative and consumption may become an important source of social and environmental innovation. Innovative behaviour involves a change in the relationship between consumers, infrastructures and institutions and its outcome may be evaluated under different criteria. The present paper suggests a comparison of three types of efficiency: ecological, economic and time efficiency. In order to illustrate the here proposed view, some environmental problems of the transportation system are discussed.