America is or, rather, was full of what Lily Allen might call weapons of massive consumption. This brings to stark relief an ongoing and interesting ethical debate for marketers: How to develop effective marketing without pernicious manipulation.

In recent years, some 70% of the American economic activity was generated by consumer spending. With the trauma of the recession, however, the rate of consumer spending has declined markedly. Recent positive spending indicators are still modest and are dwarfed by the worst unemployment rate for twenty five years. Many households saddled with debt have seen the wisdom of saving. With a savings rate near 0% in early 2008, that has risen to 6.9%, its highest rate in fifteen years. (more…)