It's a Veblen good - right now a lot of people aren't vegetarian due to cost issues but rather as a social statement. As such, the more you spend on the meatles

It's a Veblen good - right now a lot of people aren't vegetarian due to cost issues but rather as a social statement. As such, the more you spend on the meatless meat, the louder that statement is. After all, if you're buying the cheapest meat substitute, you're not being vegan/vegetarian for moral reasons, are you? It's for cost reasons. Saying this as a vegetarian who doesn't really like most meatless meat products anyways. For me they're basically just to fill cultural expectations in social situations.