I was published today at Casey Research with an article on the rise of materialism and status-driven consumption in Asia, particularly in China.

In the article, I examine the common assumption that China’s recent success is rooted in Confucian thriftiness. My own observations suggest something more complicated: many people in Asia are highly brand-conscious and eager to spend on visible symbols of success as soon as they have the means. This has important implications for investors looking at luxury goods, high-end services, casinos, and other consumption-driven sectors in the region.

Read the archived article at Casey Research via the Wayback Machine →