PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Despite a notable surge in interest in the sociology of consumption since the 1970s, consumer research in economics and sociology of conventions (in short EC/SC) has remained relatively undeveloped until the late twentieth century. This chapter provides an overview of consumption and consumer research that employs theoretical and empirical approaches based on EC/SC concepts. The chapter delineates the function of consumption in seminal works and provides an account of the multifaceted research domain in which EC/SC concepts are utilized to examine consumption phenomena. It presents exemplary studies that illustrate the application of EC/SC concepts in concrete research endeavors and the discourse on the interrelationship between these concepts of conventions and alternative approaches. Ultimately, the chapter reflects on the prospective contributions that consumer and consumption research can make to the advancement of economics and sociology of conventions. It is recommended that future research extends the subject areas and branches considered within the realm of consumption, expands the toolkit from mainly quality conventions to encompass a wider range of concepts from EC/SC, and broadens the regional focus beyond Europe and the Americas.