Research Handbook on the Sociology of Consumption

This Research Handbook explores the role of consumption in shaping the ways in which we live, work and relate to each other. It brings together sociological research from around the globe to investigate how, where and why we buy and use things, and what daily consumer choices and practices reveal about society.

Expert authors interrogate the concepts and methods surrounding the sociological imagination of consumption, establishing how our choices and practices can reinforce or challenge wider historical, cultural and economic forces. They combine foundational and contemporary theory with cutting-edge empirical work, spanning domains such as food, fashion, housing, leisure, technology, and sustainability. The Research Handbook showcases a diverse range of methodological approaches, including ethnography, interviews, longitudinal studies, creative and visual methods and comparative approaches. It also addresses urgent contemporary challenges including the climate crisis and the moral and political dimensions of consumption, presenting possibilities for a more sustainable and just future.

This Research Handbook is a fundamental resource for scholars and students of sociology, cultural economics, human geography, consumer behaviour and related social sciences. Policy analysts and professionals in sustainability, circular economies and food systems will also benefit from its valuable insights on the social dynamics that shape consumption patterns.