The Affluent Society
"The Affluent Society" is a significant work that emerged in the post-World War II context of the United States, specifically highlighting the economic conditions of the 1950s. During this period, the U.S. became the world's largest economy, yet around 20% of the population still faced poverty. John Kenneth Galbraith, the author and an esteemed economist, shifted the focus of economic discussion from merely increasing production to addressing the challenges posed by affluence. He posited that the rampant creation of consumer needs, often fueled by advertising, exacerbated the disparity between the wealthy and the poor, rather than alleviating poverty.
Galbraith advocated for a reevaluation of economic priorities, suggesting that improving public services like education, infrastructure, and housing through increased government investment was essential to combat poverty effectively. His insights resonated widely and influenced American public policy in the 1960s, notably shaping initiatives like President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty and Great Society programs. Overall, "The Affluent Society" provokes reflection on wealth distribution and the responsibilities of society toward its less fortunate members, prompting ongoing discussions about economic equity and social welfare.
The Affluent Society
Identification Social commentary on the central economic problem facing the United States during the 1950’s
Date Published in 1958
Author John Kenneth Galbraith
The arguments and analyses of the American economy included in Galbraith’s book influenced popular thinking and executive policymaking with regard to poverty and social spending.
Key Figures
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006), economist
The title of The Affluent Society gave a new name to the post-World War II era in the United States. By the 1950’s, the United States possessed the world’s largest economy, in terms of both total output and output per person. Despite this prosperity, about 20 percent of the population lived in poverty. To John Kenneth Galbraith, a professor of economics at Harvard University, the central economic problem was no longer how to increase production to satisfy basic human needs, which for many had long since been met, but rather how to deal with the growing abundance or affluence in society. He argued that continued focus on increasing output by creating needs through such means as advertising would only widen the gap between the wealthy and the poor. He argued that the real need—and the way to combat poverty—was to improve public services such as schools, infrastructure, and housing through increased government spending.
Impact
Galbraith’s book, which was widely read in the last years of the 1950’s, had a profound impact on American public policy during the 1960’s. It provided a foundation for President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty and Great Society programs, enacted during the decade following its publication.
Bibliography
Collins, Robert. More: The Politics of Economic Growth in Postwar America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. An exploration of how political attitudes regarding postwar economic growth have evolved.
Sobel, Robert. The Great Boom, 1950-2000: How a Generation of Americans Created the World’s Most Prosperous Society. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2000. A thought-provoking look at the sources of increased affluence following World War II and its social implications.