What is Consumption and Production?

• Excess gradually begins to take the place of thrift.

• Supply has increased, demand needs to move in line.

Consumptions

• Production is the act of creating 'use' value or 'utility' that can satisfy a want or need

Production

How are we to understand Consumption?

Are we to understand consumption on the basis of production, as its by-product, its derivative outcome?

Or are we to understand consumption as a sphere of life which is entirely distinct and separate from production.

Was Robinsons Crusoe’s Relationship between

Production and Consumption Inconsistent?

Robinson’s Relationship with Consumption and Production Off the Island.

Consumption

• Kills a lion just to get the hide off him.

Production• .Purchased as much land as possible for a plantation.

Robinson’s Relationship with Consumption and Production On the Island.

Consumption• Robinson aims to get everything from the ship.• Robinson goes back a total of twelve times as he is still not

satisfied, taking unnecessary things like money..

Production• Robinson makes a secure tent for himself.• He builds a Raft to collect provisions and ammunition for survival

from the wrecked ship for his sustenance• Makes Table and Chair from wood around him for his comfort.

Robinson’s Relationship with Consumption and Production On the Island.

Consumption• Robinson builds two homes. One by the sea and one in a cave.

Naming one his summer home.• He makes two canoes with even more wood by cutting down more

trees. He never used the second one.

Production• Breeds his own goats instead of shooting them.• Innovates by using goats tallow and a wick of some oakum to

make a lamp.• Sows corn and barley on the island.• Saws wood off the ship for recycling into shelves and a canoe, as

well as fortifying his abode

Robinson’s Relationship with Consumption and Production On the Island.

Consumption

• Claims a ship via a coup for his escape from the island, with everything in it as his possessions including the some men as servants.

• Goes back to Lisbon to claim his possessions.

Production• Robinson makes himself a canoe.• Robinson makes his own clothes from recycled clothes of others

as well as animal skin.

Arguments on observed relationship between Consumption and Production

Robinson’s actions had a tendency towards production. But the question is, what was the driving force behind it? Was it consumption driving production or another factor(need)? Perhaps this could be understood if we looked through the eyes of two arguments.1) Consumption as a sphere of life entirely

distinct from production.2) Consumption on the basis of production, as

its by product?

Arguments on observed relationship between Consumption and Production

Analysing Robinson Crusoe’s behaviour on the island seems to indicate that need was the driving force behind production, but with time, consumption became the driving force behind production, thereby showing inconsistencies.

Analysing Robinson’s Actions

This can be seen from the following actions,1) Basic things like raisins, fruits, nuts, bread and flesh, which initially was enough to keep him alive, was no longer adequate with time. He stopped being thrift.2) He reared goats to get milk and cheese. The more he produced the more he wanted.3) He kept getting more and more wood for not just his hut but also for comforts such as shelves and two canoes that where not necessities.4) He made two homes for himself. One by the seaside and one in a cave.

Conclusions On one hand Robinson’s actions on the island

was driven towards production by necessity, thereby supporting the argument that production is distinct from consumption, on the other hand, with time, necessity gave way to a desire to acquire more and more, thereby confirming consumption as the basis for production .

We thus conclude that based on these facts Robinson’s relationship with consumption and production reveal inconsistencies.