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Conspicuous Consumption

Sarah Dunant reflects on public attitudes to conspicuous consumption and looks back at attempts to police it in previous centuries by means of 'sumptuary laws'.

Sarah Dunant reflects on public attitudes to conspicuous consumption and looks back at attempts to police it in previous centuries by means of "sumptuary laws." While the rules curbing showing off were hopelessly ineffectual, are they a useful reminder of the antagonism that the flaunting of wealth can cause, especially in times of austerity?

Producer: Sheila Cook.

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10 minutes

Last on

Sun 24 Oct 2010 08:50

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  • Fri 22 Oct 2010 20:50
  • Sun 24 Oct 2010 08:50

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