The consumer as a social and environmental actor

This paper explores the implications for ecological economics of the idea o f consumption as a social activity. Consumers are regarded as skilled socia l agents organizing 'consumption activities' and capable of introducing inn ovations into the process of life-enjoyment. An analytical framework for an alyzing production and consumption interaction is introduced and in this wa y a comparison with the results of traditional growth theory is made possib le. Since consumers are skilled social agents, it follows that social struc tures and social relations are important in determining the amount and the quality of the environmental impacts deriving from economic activities. The refore, the analysis of social relations plays a fundamental role in ecolog ical economics and in policy proposals. In particular, the question of skil ls and structural externalities is addressed, along with the question of th e social and institutional preconditions for the development of service mar kets. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.