This paper focuses on household consumption in Ireland and explores how people understand everyday material items as either necessities or luxuries. It considers the concept of consumption corridors as a way to discuss both minimum and maximum levels of consumption, moving beyond the usual focus on minimum living standards.
Methods
The study used data from the CONSENSUS Lifestyle Survey, a large household survey carried out across the island of Ireland.
Researchers collected data from 1,500 adults living in domestic households across three counties: Derry/Londonderry, Dublin, and Galway.
The survey focused on household consumption and sustainable lifestyles, especially around water, transport, food, and energy.
Main Findings
The paper shows that ideas of need, comfort, and quality of life are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and regional factors. It also highlights that sustainable consumption policies cannot rely on a single general approach, as different groups understand and experience consumption in different ways.
Most respondents saw many everyday household items as necessities, not luxuries.
The items most commonly seen as necessities were:
Car: 89%
Mobile phone: 87%
Television: 82%
Electric or power shower: 75%
Laptop or computer: 63%
Fewer people saw items like dishwashers, bicycles, tumble dryers, and microwaves as necessities.
Younger people were more likely to see mobile phones, laptops, microwaves, and power showers as necessities and Older people were more likely to see television as a necessity.
Respondents in Northern Ireland were more likely than those in the Republic of Ireland to see cars, dishwashers, and televisions as necessities.
The main conclusion is that sustainability policies should not use a one size fits all approach. They should be tailored to different groups and local contexts.
