Exploring New Directions for Research in the Radical Political Economy of Consumption

Abstract

The sphere of consumption and the behavior of consumers has been a neglected area of investigation by radical political economists. The production/consumption duality is examined with special reference to Marx. Postmodern Marxism is offered as an alternative with which to examine consumer activities. Furthermore, insights and methods of analysis from the social construction of technology (SCOT) and feminist theory are investigated. These approaches can help to reclaim the terrain of consumer behavior for heterodox economics.