Consumption in China: How China's New Consumer Ideology Is Shaping the Nation

Consumption practices in China have been transformed at anunprecedented pace. Under Mao Zedong, the state controlled nearlyall aspects of what people consumed, from everyday necessities toentertainment and the media
today, shoddy state-run storescharacterized by a dearth of choices have made way for luxury mallsand hypermarkets filled with a multitude of products.

Consumption in China explores what it means to be a consumerin the world's fastest growing economy. LiAnne Yu provides amulti-faceted portrait of the impact of increased consumption onurban spaces, social status, lifestyles, identities, and freedom ofexpression. The book also examines what is unique and what isuniversal about how consumer practices in China have developed, investigating the factors that differentiate them from what hasbeen observed among the already mature consumer markets.

Behind the often staggering statistics about China are the veryhuman stories that highlight the emotional and social triggersbehind consumption. This engaging book is a valuable resource forstudents, scholars and business professionals interested in adeeper understanding of what motivates China's consumers, andwhat challenges they face as more aspects of everyday life becomecommoditized.