Summary

In most developed countries, in almost every trade sector, prices have dropped considerably over the last 10 years. In some cases by well over 20%. And the choice of goods on offer is mind-boggling. So much, costing so little. Wonderful, we say. This is consumer democracy! Globalisation is good! Or is it? Not according to David Bosshart. He calls it The Age of Cheap: cheap fashion; cheap travel; cheap food; cheap money; cheap beauty; cheap cities. But with it, he warns, comes cheap morals and cheap ethics - the Wal-martisation of our society. Excess, superabundance and rock-bottom prices are all part of the same phenomenon. And Wal-mart very acutely represents the paradox of globalisation and liberalisation. While customers take advantage of the mountains of bargains, Walmart's legion of workers from the USA to Asia struggle to survive on low wages (with a handful of top directors earning a fortune of course). In this impressive, disturbing book David Bosshart opens our eyes to how we must all now questions our pursuit of unbridled consumer choice and low prices. Can we rise to the challenge?