Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays

· Princeton University Press · Narrated by Lloyd James
Audiobook
3 hr 52 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook

This audiobook narrated by Lloyd James reveals how consumer spending during the holidays generates enormous amounts of economic waste

Christmas is a time of seasonal cheer, family get-togethers, holiday parties, and . . . gift giving. Lots and lots—and lots—of gift giving. It's hard to imagine any Christmas without this time-honored custom. But let's stop to consider the gifts we receive—the rooster sweater from Grandma or the singing fish from Uncle Mike. How many of us get gifts we like? How many of us give gifts not knowing what recipients want? Did your cousin really look excited about that jumping alarm clock? Lively and informed, Scroogenomics illuminates how our consumer spending generates vast amounts of economic waste—to the shocking tune of eighty-five billion dollars each winter. Economist Joel Waldfogel provides solid explanations to show us why it's time to stop the madness and think twice before buying gifts for the holidays.

When we buy for ourselves, every dollar we spend produces at least a dollar in satisfaction, because we shop carefully and purchase items that are worth more than they cost. Gift giving is different. We make less-informed choices, max out on credit to buy gifts worth less than the money spent, and leave recipients less than satisfied, creating what Waldfogel calls "deadweight loss." Waldfogel discusses how this waste isn't confined to Americans—most major economies share in this orgy of wealth destruction. While recognizing the difficulties of altering current trends, Waldfogel offers viable gift-giving alternatives.

About the author

Joel Waldfogel is the Ehrenkranz Professor and Chair of Business and Public Policy at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of The Tyranny of the Market and has been a columnist for Slate. Lloyd James is an award-winning narrator of more than a thousand audiobooks spanning virtually every genre, including Robert A. Heinlein’s The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and Charles R. Cross’s Here We Are Now: The Lasting Impact of Kurt Cobain.

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Narrated by Lloyd James