The reason we have consumerism, is because we have a middle class. Once people have the necessities of life sorted out, they figure out that there's actually lo

The reason we have consumerism, is because we have a middle class. Once people have the necessities of life sorted out, they figure out that there's actually lots of other stuff they want too. From that point, the only ingredient you're missing to reach consumerism is the desire to stand in judgement of others for wanting more frivolous stuff than you do.