What's a good or service that both the upper class and lower class buy, but the middle class doesn't?
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This was based on a question that my economics professor in college had asked us. His question was more to the effect of “What’s a good/service people buy when they have a bit of money, then they stop buying or buy less of it when they get some more money, and then they start buying it again once they have even more money?” — feel free to answer that too.
My first thought was alcohol: lower class people might buy more of it to cope with their difficult situation, whereas upper class people have more money to spend on vices and luxuries such as alcohol. Not sure if this theory holds true.
The best answer I’ve been able to come up with is golf carts, at least in the US. It’s common to see lower class people drive golf carts around their trailer parks or neighborhoods, whereas middle class people rarely do that. An upper class person might live in a wealthy neighborhood with its own built-in golf course, or the person might even own their own golf course(s).
Some dubious investments, such as crypto or donations to certain social organizations or politicians might also qualify?
I live in a decidedly middle class area and people driving golf carts around is super common. Some communities even have their own golf cart paths to the local grocery stores, and those stores have dedicated gold cart parking.
It's very common at least in the US south east.
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Gambling
Transportation services
RVs
Recreational drugs
Horses and related services
This is fun, but I'll end this with the obligatory: There are two main classes, the ownership class and the working class. The lower and middle classes are subsets of the working class.
Old cars
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Old cars
I like that one. I used to jokingly tell people I drove a classic car. It was technically correct, but no one was impressed by my rusted out, 1980s, economy sedan or its 115 horses.
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Good point. I should have said, "illicit drugs."
Those too.
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Those too.
I don't have any data to support it, but I'd speculate that the middle class uses a lot less illicit drugs, lacking the desperation of the poor or the protections of the wealthy.
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I don't have any data to support it, but I'd speculate that the middle class uses a lot less illicit drugs, lacking the desperation of the poor or the protections of the wealthy.
I also speculate that your idea of illicit drugs is not correct.
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This was based on a question that my economics professor in college had asked us. His question was more to the effect of “What’s a good/service people buy when they have a bit of money, then they stop buying or buy less of it when they get some more money, and then they start buying it again once they have even more money?” — feel free to answer that too.
My first thought was alcohol: lower class people might buy more of it to cope with their difficult situation, whereas upper class people have more money to spend on vices and luxuries such as alcohol. Not sure if this theory holds true.
The best answer I’ve been able to come up with is golf carts, at least in the US. It’s common to see lower class people drive golf carts around their trailer parks or neighborhoods, whereas middle class people rarely do that. An upper class person might live in a wealthy neighborhood with its own built-in golf course, or the person might even own their own golf course(s).
Some dubious investments, such as crypto or donations to certain social organizations or politicians might also qualify?
It’s common to see lower class people drive golf carts around their trailer parks or neighborhoods
I thought this was regional. I’ve seen it in Florida but not where I live, not that I’ve ever been to a trailer park
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I like that one. I used to jokingly tell people I drove a classic car. It was technically correct, but no one was impressed by my rusted out, 1980s, economy sedan or its 115 horses.
Here I am wondering how old i can get away with and still be safe and reliable for my teens to drive
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I also speculate that your idea of illicit drugs is not correct.
Maybe but I wonder that too. Now that Marijuana is legit most places, that’s a vice for the middle class. They can’t risk illegal when there’s a legal option and can’t afford some of the workarounds that wealthy can
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This was based on a question that my economics professor in college had asked us. His question was more to the effect of “What’s a good/service people buy when they have a bit of money, then they stop buying or buy less of it when they get some more money, and then they start buying it again once they have even more money?” — feel free to answer that too.
My first thought was alcohol: lower class people might buy more of it to cope with their difficult situation, whereas upper class people have more money to spend on vices and luxuries such as alcohol. Not sure if this theory holds true.
The best answer I’ve been able to come up with is golf carts, at least in the US. It’s common to see lower class people drive golf carts around their trailer parks or neighborhoods, whereas middle class people rarely do that. An upper class person might live in a wealthy neighborhood with its own built-in golf course, or the person might even own their own golf course(s).
Some dubious investments, such as crypto or donations to certain social organizations or politicians might also qualify?
Maybe car leases?
- lower income can’t afford to purchase and a lease is a lower payment
- wealthy either want to replace cars more often or use a car leases by a business
If middle income fall into that trap, it’s probably on the way to lower income?
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This was based on a question that my economics professor in college had asked us. His question was more to the effect of “What’s a good/service people buy when they have a bit of money, then they stop buying or buy less of it when they get some more money, and then they start buying it again once they have even more money?” — feel free to answer that too.
My first thought was alcohol: lower class people might buy more of it to cope with their difficult situation, whereas upper class people have more money to spend on vices and luxuries such as alcohol. Not sure if this theory holds true.
The best answer I’ve been able to come up with is golf carts, at least in the US. It’s common to see lower class people drive golf carts around their trailer parks or neighborhoods, whereas middle class people rarely do that. An upper class person might live in a wealthy neighborhood with its own built-in golf course, or the person might even own their own golf course(s).
Some dubious investments, such as crypto or donations to certain social organizations or politicians might also qualify?
Horse. You well off, Dad's got a bit of land? Then you can have a horse.
Nine of yous, living in a caravan with your Mum? Then you can have a horse.
Grow up in a semi-detached? No horse for you! -
This was based on a question that my economics professor in college had asked us. His question was more to the effect of “What’s a good/service people buy when they have a bit of money, then they stop buying or buy less of it when they get some more money, and then they start buying it again once they have even more money?” — feel free to answer that too.
My first thought was alcohol: lower class people might buy more of it to cope with their difficult situation, whereas upper class people have more money to spend on vices and luxuries such as alcohol. Not sure if this theory holds true.
The best answer I’ve been able to come up with is golf carts, at least in the US. It’s common to see lower class people drive golf carts around their trailer parks or neighborhoods, whereas middle class people rarely do that. An upper class person might live in a wealthy neighborhood with its own built-in golf course, or the person might even own their own golf course(s).
Some dubious investments, such as crypto or donations to certain social organizations or politicians might also qualify?
Any farm animal
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I live in a decidedly middle class area and people driving golf carts around is super common. Some communities even have their own golf cart paths to the local grocery stores, and those stores have dedicated gold cart parking.
It's very common at least in the US south east.
I think golf carts are more a regional thing where the weather is good enough most the year and there are destinations in reasonable range. Driving 5 miles to Costco in freezing weather isn't really a golf cart activity.
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Crack cocaine use is pervasive among the lowest income folks in my area, as are meth and K2. And those people sure as hell aren't doing mushrooms or acid. My point is that cocaine use definitely has a bimodal distribution
Just wondering, why do you think that coke users stay away from psychadelics and vice versa?
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This was based on a question that my economics professor in college had asked us. His question was more to the effect of “What’s a good/service people buy when they have a bit of money, then they stop buying or buy less of it when they get some more money, and then they start buying it again once they have even more money?” — feel free to answer that too.
My first thought was alcohol: lower class people might buy more of it to cope with their difficult situation, whereas upper class people have more money to spend on vices and luxuries such as alcohol. Not sure if this theory holds true.
The best answer I’ve been able to come up with is golf carts, at least in the US. It’s common to see lower class people drive golf carts around their trailer parks or neighborhoods, whereas middle class people rarely do that. An upper class person might live in a wealthy neighborhood with its own built-in golf course, or the person might even own their own golf course(s).
Some dubious investments, such as crypto or donations to certain social organizations or politicians might also qualify?
This is less of a specific good and more of a trend, but middle class people are more likely to buy bulk goods. Lower classes often don't have the means to do so (space to store it and money to buy it, or access to places that sell in bulk) and higher classes simply don't need to, or they buy luxury items that wouldn't be sold in bulk.
Similarly, middle class people are less likely to shop at places with high markups, such as convenience stores.
The times when people shop would also see trends, with lower and higher classes doing more shopping midday on a Tuesday and middle class working people with average 9-5 office jobs being unable to do so.
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Just wondering, why do you think that coke users stay away from psychadelics and vice versa?
I think crack users don't bother with hallucinogens because they're looking for high impact dopamine hits, not a lengthy psychedelic experience. I don't think vice versa is true, people who use psychedelics aren't necessarily avoiding cocaine, but they're probably using higher quality cocaine rather than crack
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Old cars.
Good one!
I routinely use terms like "classic" to describe my cars. It amuses me, and is mostly harmless.
But, on occasion, this has disappointed a friend who I gave a ride to, who did not realize the term was meant as humor.
(Though technically correct, I guess? My car is old, if not nice.)
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I like that one. I used to jokingly tell people I drove a classic car. It was technically correct, but no one was impressed by my rusted out, 1980s, economy sedan or its 115 horses.
We finally got a family car when i was 16 - a 1978 corolla station wagon.
In the 90's.
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Any farm animal
This made me laugh, it's so true! Apart from chickens though - I know a few middle class people with chickens.
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Horse. You well off, Dad's got a bit of land? Then you can have a horse.
Nine of yous, living in a caravan with your Mum? Then you can have a horse.
Grow up in a semi-detached? No horse for you!
