Writing Task 2 - Sample 6: Economy (Band 9)

Topic: People in many countries today are encouraged to buy and more consumer products. Some people think that this development is good for the economy, while others think that it is very bad for society as a whole.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

Consumers now, through an increasingly more materialistic mentality along with mass marketing and sophisticated targeted and viral marketing, are encouraged to buy more. There is a pervasive anxiousness from some about the adverse impacts of this trend on individuals and society as a whole, while others claim that this development, from an economic and business perspective, instead brings a great array of long term benefits that can filter down to the individual level.

Analysing this issue from an economic basis shows a clear positive cycle linking national economic growth and business development to higher standards of living for all in society. Firstly, if a greater demand for products is stimulated through the media via different forms of advertising, then manufacturers and producers will aim to meet this market need in the production of more goods. This then results in job growth, a greater range of employment options, and possibly higher job earnings for individuals in all industry levels. If a person has a higher earning potential than they have greater personal spending power and a greater amount of domestic spending, which is clearly good for the economy, along with greater prosperity for individuals are the final results.

This trend of consumerism, however, does have its obvious downsides. Advertising permeates every facet of our lives through various direct and more subliminal means in the media. For some, a negative cycle of borrowing and spending, in the end leading to a debt trap, can have detrimental impacts on their lives. Though it is worth pointing out that overspending and an overly materialistic mindset does not affect the majority of people in our community, and for most individuals, addictive spending tendencies can be managed.

From the issues outlined above, one can conclude that there is stronger evidence in favour of economic and societal benefits of encouraging people to buy increasingly more products. Uncontrolled spending and debt are negative consequences of this trend which only affect a small percentage of the population that cannot escape from the downward spiral of this spending trap.

(339 words) - This is a sample of a band 9.

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