To pick a nit and hopefully spark interest in what is an amazing book, Thorsteun Veblen described a good purchased to create envy as "Invidious Consumption", wh

To pick a nit and hopefully spark interest in what is an amazing book, Thorsteun Veblen described a good purchased to create envy as "Invidious Consumption", which is a special case of conspicuous consumption. Invidious Consumption is meant to divide people. Conspicuous only means some aspects of it stand outside the realm of 'utility' (which to Veblen includes aesthetics).