The Political Economy of Status: Superstars, Markets and Culture Change

In this timely book, Theodore Koutsobinas explores the system of status markets and their social effects including inequality. He explains how media fascination with superstars and luxury consumption goods amplify positional concerns for all, distort the aspirations of the middle class and cause relative deprivation.

Building on themes first identified by Veblen and Galbraith, the author analyses extensively the behavioral evidence from modern interdisciplinary research and contributes const...