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The market is not insensitive to consumer demand. Your choices don't make a significant impact, but the aggregate choices of all consumers is hugely significant
by jdietrich 9y ago
The market is not insensitive to consumer demand. Your choices don't make a significant impact, but the aggregate choices of all consumers is hugely significant. If we buy less meat and lobby for a reduction in agricultural subsidies, the inevitable result is a reduction in meat production, either through a direct response from producers or through the bankruptcy of less efficient producers.
- JoeAltmaier 9y agoHow's that going for us so far? Its a hard sell, convincing people to change their behavior now (pointlessly; in fact to the detriment of the ecology short-term) for some theoretical good later.
- jdietrich 9y agoThe Ford F-150 is the biggest selling vehicle in the US. Ford haven't even tried to sell it in Europe, because there's no demand. They do sell the Ka, a model even smaller than the Fiesta that isn't available in the US. Ten years ago, the market for grass-fed beef and organic vegetables was negligible. Consumer demand induced the agricultural industry to start shifting towards production techniques with a lower environmental impact. Consumer demand matters.