Commodities Quote by Ivan Illich
““Our market-intensive societies measure material progress by the increase in the volume and variety of commodities produced. And taking our cue from this sector, we measure social progress by the distribution of access to these commodities. Economics has been developed as propaganda for the takeover by large-scale commodity producers.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Right to Useful Unemployment and Its Professional Enemies", 1978
Society gauges progress by commodity production and access, turning economics into a tool for producers.
In simple terms: Progress measured by goods.
Key Takeaway
Question economic metrics.
Themes
economics
consumerism
power
propaganda
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- urban planning
- education reform
Key Concepts
commodity fetishism
social inequality
Questions to Reflect On
- What non‑material measures matter?
- How can we shift focus from consumption?
A Different Perspective
Alternative metrics may be hard to quantify.
