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  • how dentist think

    I never thought of the smile as conspicuous consumption. This article is worth re-reading.
    Posted to American Way of Dentistry, The by david wayne osedach on September 30, 2009

  • Missing the point - Cosby

    In a recent article by Ray Fisman (Cos and Effect) critisizing Bill Cosby's reasoning why African-American's spend more on 'visible' status I find the clear oversight of Bill Cosby's point...poorer African American's are not using their money on Health and Education. Whether this is because more poor African Americans live by other African ...
    Posted to The Dismal Science by thnkboutitTX on January 12, 2008

  • I don't buy it

    I don't buy the author's argument at all. Here's why: it doesn't make sense. Cosby and others of his mentality are trying to tell us as black people that our situation will only improve if we choose to improve it. That stance is hugely different from the opinion that black people must become whites' equals before other indices of accomplishment ...
    Posted to The Dismal Science by Smikeyboy on January 12, 2008

  • This is not just a Black problem

    This is not just a Black problem although Cosby addressed it as a Black problem. America is infatuated about keeping up with heir peers by having big homes expensive cars and large screen TV's. Don't forget the boats,jet ski's, motorcycles,RV's and the list goes on. Poor people such as Black's in the lower income bracket, but this could also be ...
    Posted to The Dismal Science by jescott418 on January 12, 2008

  • You're more wrong than Cosby

    So you guys have a twist on this. OK, I'm sure that based on your methodology you are right. Now - how does this serve the black community? Bill Cosby is trying to help lower income black families understand some of the mechanics of their situation. Your study results imply that it is OK to feel good if you forgoe some necessities such ...
    Posted to The Dismal Science by shadow32 on January 12, 2008

  • A social marketing solution

    Perhaps the best way to get the poor to stop spending money on conspicuous goods and start investing in their children's future is to take the power away from their symbols.Those who market the goods are all about putting the power into the symbols.But it takes a whole community to believe the emperor has clothes, and only one person to point out ...
    Posted to The Dismal Science by samalex on January 11, 2008