In attempting to answer that question, we must recognize at the outset that developments
in these two sectors may not be symmetrical during the early stages of major shifts.
There may be lags, or the inherent characteristics of these two sectors may differentiate
the pace of change. The production sector, for example, is generally considered
organized, which means that, by a process of careful planning and technological and
capital infusion, significant changes can be brought about in a relatively short period of
time. These changes can especially result if the existing production processes are not
well entrenched and a new infrastructure can be built without having to replace an
existing one. The consumption sector, however, operates according to well-established
social and cultural norms and is based in stratification systems that evolve over time. E.
Hirschman (1985) has analyzed the continuities and discontinuities in consumption in a
changing environment and the essential tension between the two.1
She argues that even
in the so-called postindustrial age, people cling to primitive aspects of consumption as
an effective defense against the forces of change. Changes occurring in the consumption
sector, therefore, may or may not be as dramatic or visible as those in the production
sector, but they are nonetheless extremely important as anticipatory or confirming processes. Our analysis attempts to uncover those processes. However, there are two
aspects of our study that need some explanation: one pertains to the paucity of data, the
other to the scope of the analysis.