Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays

A “lively, spot-on” guide to stopping the madness of wasteful holiday spending—without ruining Christmas (Publishers Weekly).

Christmas is a time of family get-togethers, holiday parties, and . . . gift giving. Lots and lots—and lots—of gift giving. It’s hard to imagine Christmas without this time-honored custom. But let’s stop to consider the gifts we receive—the rooster sweater from Grandma or the singing fish from Uncle Mike. How many of us get gifts we like? How many of us give gifts not knowing what recipients want? Did your cousin really look excited about that jumping alarm clock?

Scroogenomics illustrates how our consumer spending generates vast amounts of economic waste. Economist Joel Waldfogel provides solid explanations of how it would benefit us to think twice about our holiday habits. He indicates that this waste isn’t confined to Americans—most major economies share in this orgy of wealth destruction. Changing the world may not be easy—but Waldfogel offers viable, creative gift-giving alternatives that can make a difference, one family, friend group, or office staff at a time.

“Who would have thought that a little dose of Scroogenomics was just what I needed to reclaim the true meaning of Christmas?” —Sojourners

© 2009 Princeton University Press (Ebook): 9781400831258

Release date

Ebook: 5 October 2009