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Marshall Vs. Thorsten Veblen Theories Of Behavioral Economics

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Economic Theories Name Institution Question A. Marshall vs. Thorsten Veblen Views on Behavioral Economics Consumers’ decision to purchase a product in the market is contributed by a variety of reasons. Some customers purchase a commodity because it is satisfying their taste expectations and its price is friendly to their pockets. Other customers decide to buy a product because to is prestigious but not because of needs or satisfaction (Screpanti, and Zamagni, 2005). Marshall Keynes and Thorsten Veblen who are proponents of theories on behavioral economics had views on why consumers purchase certain products in the market. Marshall and Veblen had a psychological similarity in their idea as well as differences in their point of …show more content…

According to Veblen, leisure class consumption in the economy is motivated and influenced by a prestige seeking but not because of satisfaction factors or needs (Screpanti, and Zamagni, 2005). Veblen emphasized on varieties of reasons that would make people decide to purchase prestigious products such as cars, houses as well as fewer products ranging as low as clothes. Marshall argued that price in the industry determines the overall cost of the industry representative firm, in the long run, agreeing to the accumulated experience and production growth scale (Screpanti, and Zamagni, 2005). Comparatively, Veblen’s instinctive approach is different in that it holds that satisfaction of a conspicuous consumer comes from a successful display of status through a product. The acquisition of those goods in the society extensively controls the behavior of the consumer thus the acquisition becomes the driving force behind the behavior. Marshall’s view is dominated by the poor and middle class in the society who probably purchase basic goods that serve them for a longer period. The consumer in the case of Marshall does not engage in impulse buying and always has a plan for the product they want to buy. The consumer compares the price of the same product in the market thus choosing a product with a relative price contrary to Veblen’s point of view

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