Family Questions: Final Exam

The following are the questions I accepted from the families, which will be on the final exam, so copy them down. Each contributing family member listed gets 5 points and some will get bonus points if I accepted more than one question.

BLUE FAMILY: (Stev, Johnson, Jenny, Sarah) 5 points (no bonus points)

QUESTION: In the context of The Cheating Culture, what is "trickle-down corruption?" (1)
ANSWER: how ordinary lower and middle class people feel pressure to emulate the lifestyles of the wealthy and feel justified in cheating in order to get ahead.


GREEN FAMILY: (Kristin, Grant) 5 points +1 bonus point

QUESTION: Why was the old consumerism based on "keeping up with the Joneses" not as destructive as the new consumerism? (1)
ANSWER: because keeping up with the Joneses refers to neighbors around you in pretty much the same socio-economic situation as yourself, so you don't have to spend much or go into debt to try to keep up.

QUESTION: What was mentioned in the video program, "Advertising and the End of the World," as one of the most successful ad campaigns ever? (1)
ANSWER: "Diamonds are forever"


YELLOW FAMILY: (Megan, Justina, Cody, Matt) 5 points +1 bonus point

QUESTION: In regards to a view of society, what statement did former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher make that is quoted in Barber's Consumed, and also singled out for criticism in "Advertising and the End of the World?" (1)
ANSWER: "There is no such thing as society, only individuals"

QUESTION: Toward the end of The Overspent American, how does Juliet Schor respond to the question: will consuming less wreck the economy? (1)
ANSWER: She says it will not happen overnight, and that we and the economy would adapt. The only way the economy might be ruined is if this happened overnight, which she believes will not happen.


BLACK FAMILY: (Christie, Jessica, Ann, Chris) 5 points +1 bonus point

QUESTION: In the context of The Overspent American, what does stretching reference groups vertically mean? (1)
ANSWER: Comparing your economic well-being and consuming habits with people of higher social classes, namely movie stars and people on television.

QUESTION: What do people underestimate in surveys that lends credence to the notion that people are in denial about their spending habits? (1)
ANSWER: underestimate their credit card debt by one-half.

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I'll hand your papers back tomorrow. I'll continue commenting on The Cheating Culture, thru Chapter 6, and will review briefly for the final exam. I will announce a time on Friday that you can stop by and ask questions about the final.
OUR FINAL EXAM IS SCHEDULED FOR: TUES.(5/13) 2-5PM.