Compulsive buying in maturing consumer societies: An empirical re-inquiry

This study examines the development of compulsive buying in a maturing consumer society such as Germany. It is argued that developments characterizing mature, i.e., postmodern consumer societies create an atmosphere which supports the rise of compensatory and compulsive buying. These are analyzed in the context of an acculturation process which has been activated by the reunification of East Germany and West Germany back in 1989. Drawing on two national representative surveys investigating compulsive buying which were conducted in Germany in 1991 and 2001, a marked increase in compulsive buying is observed.