MovieChat Forums > The Man in the White Suit Discussion > The economics of durability

The economics of durability

posted 13 years ago by tricksoftrade01
10 replies | jump to latest

A interesting comedy that touched on the topic of durability in goods sold and the effect on the economic market. I can't think of another film that I have seen that addresses this conundrum.

In the 1970's the 'wear out' theroy was very popular. This was a theroy that rationalized that industry could manufacture goods that would be much more durable and last a great deal longer but chose to produce items that would wear out because they would want sell new items. This was especially true for cars.

I believe that the' wear out' theroy had holes in it because it failed to account for the consumers prefrence for newer, better items with more features. You can see that this is mostly true for electronics, people discard perfectly good televsions and computers for newer ones.

The textile industry would be the same thing. Womens dresses would not be effected by a industructable dress, because styles change. The suit industry would be effected, but I believe that the industry would introduce new styles every two years or so and use marketing techniques to bolester sales.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] imdb-7676 12 years ago

As you note, it's the industry that introduces styles. W/out concentrated effort, fashions would probably change not as fast - "unfashionable" and "worn out" complement each other, but I doubt that it would be that easy to keep the fashion cycles as fast as they are if clothes would last longer at low prices. (Right now, you can get lasting clothes, but for high prices, for use in circles where fashion doesn't change that fast.)

[–] ilsonowl 12 years ago

Exactly. Fashion is an industrial construct used to keep commerce flowing and the current economic model stable ... or keep on producing more debt, inflation and produce and force vast swathes of people into wage slavery because they "need" to buy the latest fashionable wardrobe.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

More than 50 years on and the film's theme concerning science and technology and the effect it has upon work and economy remains very prevalent. There are so many jobs that have been lost as a result of technological advance. This might be good but for the need people have to contribute and the necessity of money to help sustain one's self in an economic society. How funny that the film shows people of all sides uniting against scientific progress.

I believe that the' wear out' theroy had holes in it because it failed to account for the consumers prefrence for newer, better items with more features.

Except that a good few people would have lost the money to purchase new items as a result of the indestructible fibre that repels dirt. In fact such a product would create even more of an elite than exists already.

Why do you refuse to remember me?

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

"More than 50 years on and the film's theme concerning science and technology and the effect it has upon work and economy remain very prevalent."

Exactly! It's what gives this movie it's sense of timelessness.

"...the film shows people of all sides uniting against scientific progress."

It succeeds because it pokes fun at both capital's and labour's responses to the break through.

[–] Charlot47 10 years ago

Yes, you can still buy products that with care will last your lifetime. Some are in fact cheaper than the throwaway stuff in the shops but many cost more and are therefore restricted to a minority. In that sense, capitalism today is not much different from 1950. It would be interesting if someone familiar with communism could comment: are or were there well-engineered durable goods that ordinary people could afford?

[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

It would be interesting if someone familiar with communism could comment: are or were there well-engineered durable goods that ordinary people could afford?

Why does a communist need to answer this? My family were of extremely modest means and purchases of white goods, for example, were made to last a lifetime. So yes there were well-engineered goods that endured for ordinary people in my country, the UK. Those goods were manufactured in the UK then and so there was a pride in producing quality products.

Movement ends, intent continues;
Intent ends, spirit continues

[–] mam13143 10 years ago

Exactly. It wasn't long ago a person who worked at a place that made auto carburetors or tv tubes thought they had a job for life. Had an uncle who was a tv repairman. Time marches on and technology destroys old jobs and creates new ones. The object is to stay ahead of the curve as they say. Easier said than done of course.

[–] eddiekent 9 years ago

Soon after WW2 ended my father, a soldier, took me to a demonstration of a new invention. Someone drove a six inch nail through the side of an army lorry tyre. They then squirted a liquid into the tyre, pumped it up, and drove away. I was very impressed and couldn't wait to see it on general sale. I think it finally made it about 30 years later. Surely this movie's moral is that progress is good, but don't go just dumping it on the market. Give us all time to adjust.

[–] mickeyone 9 years ago

I think your theory that the 'wear out' theory has holes in it, has holes in it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfbbF3oxf-E