If instead of looking at income, you look at levels of…
“If instead of looking at income, you look at levels of consumption, if anything that's become more equal. The fraction of families that have a dishwasher, that have a sewing machine, that have a television set. In respect to consumption, it's very hard to avoid the view that people have been getting more equal rather than more unequal.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Viewing equality through consumption shows more households own similar appliances, suggesting rising material parity despite income gaps.
In simple terms: Consumption patterns show growing material equality.
Key Takeaway
Focus on consumption metrics for equity assessments.
Themes
economic equality
consumption
material parity
income vs consumption
Mood
analytical
balanced
Type
sociological
economic
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- market research
- social studies
- public discourse
Key Concepts
economics
social stratification
consumer behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- How does consumption equality affect social cohesion?
- Are material goods the best measure of equality?
A Different Perspective
Ignores qualitative aspects of wellbeing and non‑material inequality.