Veblen and the Theory of the Backpacker Leisure Class: Status Seeking and Emulation in the Australian Contemporary Tourist Economy

Wendy Hillman

doi:10.3727/154427210x12684119879521

Abstract

In 1899 Thorstein Veblen wrote a seminal monograph on the subject of consumption and leisure. His work, The Theory of the Leisure Class, is one of the most enduring examples of status-seeking individuals' conspicuous consumption and conspicuous leisure practices, particularly when applied to the tourist industry, and furthermore, is still relevant in today's economic climate. This article develops an independent theory of backpackers and how they can be perceived as undertaking conspicuous consumption and conspicuous leisure practices. This is done using Veblen's work as a foundation. Qualitative methods using in-depth interviews and participant observation techniques are employed to obtain data from 41 participants. The findings serve to highlight the fact that Veblen's thesis is as relevant today as it was when it was written in 1899.

Highlights

For hundreds of years many people have sought to visit destinations as independent travelers
What this means is that these enduring relations of serviees and payment for the services are developed by one seetion of the backpacker group in order to show their dominance and elevated status over other backpackers. These ideas lie at the very foundation of Veblen's argument and are discussed. This seetion of the article sets out the links between Veblen's classic monograph and the backpacker participants in this study
Throughout this section backpackers' experiences, using tbe transcribed interviews and eoded data, illustrate how eaeh of Veblen's notions of economic life fit into the contemporary existence of the backpacker subculture

Summary

Introduction

For hundreds of years many people have sought to visit destinations as independent travelers. A complicating characteristic of contemporary consumption is the presence of youth subcultures and their impression on the "culture of youth." Veblen never really theorized youth as a separate section of the consumer masses In facl, it was not until the post-Second World War era that "youth" became a noticeably identified social group that was associated with standards of taste distinct from the rest of society Many of the backpackers in this study are able to practice conspicuous consumption, conspicuous leisure, emulation, and status-sceking or "honorific" behavior That is, they display stereotypical behavior, even though they want to be perccived as "the" group of independent travelers. The blank cells indicate that no data was collected or available for that category regarding that particular participant

27 Australia

Findings

Conclusion

51. Leonards