− | The consumer economy began to expand exponentially in the early- to mid-20th century. It has been said that two-thirds of jobs in the [[Directory:United States|United States]] are now tied either directly or indirectly to the consumer economy.<ref>''[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670887366?ie=UTF8&tag=mywikibizcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0670887366 The Support Economy: Why Corporations Are Failing Individuals and The Next Episode of Capitalism]'', Shoshana Zuboff & James Maxmin, [http://books.google.com/books?id=pn-7AAAAIAAJ&q=%22in+the+US+economy+were+directly+or+indirectly+dependent+upon+consumer+expenditures+making+consumers+responsible%22&dq=%22in+the+US+economy+were+directly+or+indirectly+dependent+upon+consumer+expenditures+making+consumers+responsible%22&lr=&ei=jtQCS6ubM5zGNfqnzNoO pg. 8].</ref> A report written by professor Peter Spencer of the Ernst & Young Item Club concluded that the consumer economy would not recover from the recession until 2011. <ref>Wallop, Henry & Conway, Edmund (2008). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/3227351/Consumer-economy-will-not-recover-until-2011.html "Consumer economy will not recover until 2011"]. ''The Telegraph'', telegraph.co.uk.</ref> In a September 2008 article published on OpEdNews.com, Ann Kramer proposed a new economic system as an alternative to a consumer-based economy, due to the effects of the recession. Dubbed "Partnerism", the proposed economic framework would implement equal cooperation between all sectors of the economy, elevating the significance of what the author perceives as marginalized sectors. Kramer believes that the bailout of financial institutions was not a sustainable model, commenting that "Wall Street has been acting like drunken fools". <ref>Kramer, Ann (2008). [http://www.opednews.com/articles/Time-to-reinvent-the-econo-by-Ann-Kramer-080925-427.html "Beyond the Consumer Economy: Partnerism"]. ''OpEdNews''</ref> | + | The consumer economy began to expand exponentially in the early- to mid-20th century. Around the early 20th century, the growth of consumer rights and activist movements also commenced, with the creation of organizations such as the National Consumers League.<ref>http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/coolhtml/ccpres05.html</ref> It has been said that two-thirds of jobs in the [[Directory:United States|United States]] are now tied either directly or indirectly to the consumer economy.<ref>''[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670887366?ie=UTF8&tag=mywikibizcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0670887366 The Support Economy: Why Corporations Are Failing Individuals and The Next Episode of Capitalism]'', Shoshana Zuboff & James Maxmin, [http://books.google.com/books?id=pn-7AAAAIAAJ&q=%22in+the+US+economy+were+directly+or+indirectly+dependent+upon+consumer+expenditures+making+consumers+responsible%22&dq=%22in+the+US+economy+were+directly+or+indirectly+dependent+upon+consumer+expenditures+making+consumers+responsible%22&lr=&ei=jtQCS6ubM5zGNfqnzNoO pg. 8].</ref> A report written by professor Peter Spencer of the Ernst & Young Item Club concluded that the consumer economy in the United Kingdom would not recover from the recession until 2011. <ref>Wallop, Henry & Conway, Edmund (2008). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/3227351/Consumer-economy-will-not-recover-until-2011.html "Consumer economy will not recover until 2011"]. ''The Telegraph'', telegraph.co.uk.</ref> In a September 2008 article published on OpEdNews.com, Ann Kramer proposed a new economic system as an alternative to a consumer-based economy, due to the effects of the recession. Dubbed "Partnerism", the proposed economic framework would implement equal cooperation between all sectors of the economy, elevating the significance of what the author perceives as marginalized sectors. Kramer believes that the bailout of financial institutions in the United States was not a sustainable model, commenting that "Wall Street has been acting like drunken fools". <ref>Kramer, Ann (2008). [http://www.opednews.com/articles/Time-to-reinvent-the-econo-by-Ann-Kramer-080925-427.html "Beyond the Consumer Economy: Partnerism"]. ''OpEdNews''</ref> |