For Victorian shop workers, Christmas could be a miserable time of long hours and low pay.
A ‘Mickey Mouse’ Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The commercial aspects of Christmas have assisted its embrace in non-Christian countries.
Fazry Ismail/EPA
Psychological ownership is that feeling that someone stole ‘your’ parking spot or nabbed the last sweater you had your eye on. We have a tendency to get territorial when we feel it’s been violated.
Shoppers, start your engines …
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Millions of Americans will be shopping for turkeys in the coming days. An economist suggests a few things to keep in mind as you hunt for the perfect bird for your feast.
A long line might actually be the quickest line.
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer
Don’t despair if, once you’ve gathered your shopping items, you’re met by a single line that looks a mile long. Queuing theory suggests this is likely the fastest way to get you rung up and moving on.
Artificial intelligence can detect patterns in your shopping behaviour that can help retailers deliver better deals to you, and then suggest things you never even knew you wanted.
When young adults create and share online content focused on consumer products, it can trigger a social comparison process that results in feelings of inferiority and low self-esteem.
Meet the ‘Yeah-buts’ - those who know plastic is bad for the environment, but can’t get behind the bag ban because it affects their own convenience. This mindset can stall the best-laid green plans.