浅析中美消费观念的差异
浅析中西方主流消费理念差异
浅析中西方主流消费理念差异作者：周霞杜孝文来源：《读与写·中旬刊》2017年第09期摘要：中西方在主流文化、主流思想以及教育方式等方面存在着巨大的差异，而这些差异又是造成中西方消费理念不同的重要因素。
通过深入探讨造成中西方消费理念差异，可有助于更好地形成一种健康、合理的消费理念。
关键词：中西方；主流文化；主流思想；教育方式；消费理念中图分类号：G648文献标识码：B文章编号：1672-1578（2017）09-0015-01自改革开放以来，中国确立了以经济建设为中心的发展方针，并进入了一场从经济领域开始但却绝不仅仅限于经济领域的伟大变革。
与西方社会自下而上的现代化进程所不同的是，中国的现代化进程是由国家主导且充满中国特色的，中国目前仍处于转型期，在这一时期，中国社会将会经历社会经济结构的转换，社会体制的不断更新，社会利益认同以及社会价值观念的转变。
在众多影响中西方消费理念的因素中，主流文化、主流思想以及教育方式等的作用尤为突出。
1.中西主流思想差异对消费理念的影响勤俭节约是中国历来的传统美德之一，同时也是中国主要的消费理念，这是由于古代中国以农耕社会为主，绝大多数的人们处于社会最底层，不仅要面对繁重的徭役，还要祈祷上天的眷顾，天灾人祸不断导致物质财富的极大匮乏。
然而在重农轻商的思想之下，商品经济的发展缓慢甚至停滞。
不仅如此，老百姓经济实力弱小，经济购买力不足等使得人民生活水平较低，从而勤俭节约也就成为了中华民族延续上千年的优良传统。
勤俭节约的思想导致了中国消费者谨慎消费的理念，尤其体现在对高端奢侈品的较低消费意向，追求物美价廉的消费占据主导地位，并制约着国人的消费行为。
与消费相比，中国人更倾向于攒钱的行为也是受制于此思想。
西方的消费理念恰恰与中国勤俭节约的消费理念相反，自文艺复兴以后，西方世界开始鼓吹解放人类天性，崇尚自由，主张及时行乐，财产乃是身外之物。
另外，欧洲的海洋性气候适宜，地形地势平坦，天灾较少，畜牧业高度发达，商品经济蓬勃发展，人民购买力强，公民的个人自我意识较强，在这种及时行乐的思想下，西方消费者有钱便用来消费，没钱也会通过借贷等方式提前消费。
中美消费观差异的背景和意义
中美消费观差异的背景和意义摘要：一、引言二、中美消费观差异的背景1.文化差异2.经济发展水平3.社会环境三、中美消费观的具体差异1.消费习惯2.消费观念3.消费价值观四、中美消费观差异的意义1.个人财务规划2.国家经济发展3.全球经济一体化五、结论正文：一、引言中美作为世界上最大的经济体之一，其消费观的差异一直以来都备受关注。
消费观是人们在生活和消费中所形成的观念和态度，它不仅影响着个人的消费行为，也关系到国家经济的发展和社会的进步。
本文将分析中美消费观差异的背景和具体表现，并探讨这些差异的意义。
二、中美消费观差异的背景1.文化差异中美文化背景的差异是造成消费观不同的主要原因。
中国传统文化强调节俭、谦逊，注重家庭和集体利益；而美国文化则强调个人主义、自由和追求物质享受。
这些文化差异在消费观上得以体现。
2.经济发展水平经济发展水平是影响消费观的重要因素。
美国作为世界上最发达的国家之一，消费水平较高，人们更注重享受当下；而中国虽然近年来经济发展迅速，但人均收入水平仍有一定差距，因此人们在消费时会更加注重实用性和经济性。
3.社会环境社会环境对消费观的影响也不容忽视。
美国社会竞争激烈，人们为了提高生活品质，往往通过消费来展示自己的地位和实力；而中国社会则更注重家庭和亲情，消费观念相对较为保守。
三、中美消费观的具体差异1.消费习惯在中美两国的消费习惯上，中国人更注重节俭和储蓄，习惯于根据自己的收入水平进行消费；而美国人则更倾向于借贷消费，提前享受生活。
2.消费观念在消费观念上，中国人注重长远规划和家庭利益，消费行为往往受到家庭、子女教育和养老等因素的影响；而美国人的消费观念则以个人为中心，更关注当下的生活品质。
3.消费价值观在消费价值观方面，中国人重视面子和人际关系，消费时会考虑到他人的感受；而美国人的消费价值观则以个人喜好和需求为主，较少受到他人意见的影响。
四、中美消费观差异的意义1.个人财务规划中美消费观差异在个人财务规划方面具有重要意义。
关于中美消费观差异的参考书籍
近年来，中美两国的消费观念差异日益受到关注。
中美两国的消费市场、消费行为和消费心态存在着一些明显的差异，这一现象引起了学者们的浓厚兴趣。
针对中美消费观差异的研究逐渐成为学术界的热门话题。
为了深入了解中美消费观差异的相关内容，我在以下书籍中找到了宝贵的研究资料，特此推荐给大家。
第一、《中美消费观念差异研究》该书由著名学者合著，系统地探讨了中美两国消费观念差异的相关问题。
书中首先对中美两国的消费文化进行了比较分析，揭示了中美消费文化的根本差异。
深入剖析了中美用户的心理差异，从文化、历史和社会背景等多个角度进行了综合分析。
书中还通过大量的案例分析和数据支持，论证了中美消费观念差异对市场营销策略的影响。
该书总结了大量的实证研究成果，对中美消费观念差异进行了全面深入的解读，具有较高的学术价值。
第二、《我国消费：文化、社会和历史》该著作是关于我国消费文化的经典之作，书中深入探讨了我国消费行为、观念和心态的历史渊源。
作者结合我国的传统文化和现代社会，对我国消费方式进行了全面分析。
与此书中也对我国消费观念与西方国家的差异进行了深入比较。
通过对我国消费观念的全景式展示，使读者能够更加清晰地认识我国消费文化的特点和独特之处。
该书对于理解我国消费观念的形成和发展具有重要意义，也为研究中美消费观念差异提供了深刻启示。
第三、《美国消费心理学》这本书系统地阐释了美国消费心理学的相关理论和研究成果。
书中通过对美国用户心理特点的深入探讨，揭示了美国用户的消费动机、决策机制和行为模式。
作者还通过大量的案例和实证研究，展示了美国消费心理学在不同场景下的表现和特点。
通过学习这本书，读者能够更加全面地了解美国用户的行为逻辑和心理特征，从而有助于从理论上理解中美消费观念差异的本质。
第四、《跨文化营销：理论与实践》该书系统地阐述了跨文化营销的理论框架和实践方法。
在对不同国家和地区的消费文化进行深入比较的基础上，书中提出了针对不同文化环境下的营销策略与方法。
议论文西方消费观念-中西方消费观念差异
议论文西方消费观念:中西方消费观念差异近年来,受以美国为代表的西方消费主义的生活方式的影响,我国居民不论收入水平的高低对收入越高,消费的商品越多。
接下来小编为你带来议论文西方消费观念，希望对你有帮助。
议论文西方消费观念篇1中国人崇尚勤俭持家，量入为出，习惯于存款消费。
而西方人尤其是美国人则主张超前消费，习惯于贷款去享受生活。
有这样一个故事，讲的是一个中国老太太和一个美国老太太在天堂相遇，谈起了各自在人间的一生。
美国老太太到银行贷款买房，住了30年，最后贷款也还清了，并享受了一辈子的快乐生活。
中国老太太在年轻时，他母亲去世了，为他留下了刚买的房子，让她享受了30年;最后，她也为自己的女儿留下了一套新房。
听完了这个故事，我们应该能够大概了解中美消费观念里体现的文化差异，以及与此相关的社会伦理和社会价值观念等方面的差异。
美国老太太贷款住上了新房，舒舒服服地生活了一辈子;中国老太太也有自己的新房住，也能享受人生，不过住的是她母亲的房子。
从这个故事中可以看出美国人是自己享受生活，自己管自己，认为儿孙自有儿孙福而中国人崇尚的前人载树，后人乘凉，非常关心自己下一代的幸福生活。
造成这种差异的原因是多方面的。
因为从古自今，美国人相信上帝，认为他会给每个人赐福，所以美国人崇尚公平，认为自己的事情自己去做，不要想有别人的帮助;而中国人尊住祖，认为是祖先给子孙赐福，是祖先在保佑着你，所以中国人崇尚伦理亲情。
中西消费观念的差异，取决于各自不同的伦理亲情于价值观念。
随着文化更加广泛、更加频繁、更加激烈、更加深入地接触与碰撞，中西方也会多向的、多层次的互动和吸纳对方的优秀文化，中国人在子女留下财富的同时，也会接受贷款消费，而美国人也会更加注重伦理亲情。
议论文西方消费观念篇2随着经济社会的不断发展，人们的生活水平提高了，消费能力自然上升，消费观念也在发生变化。
此时，为了促进国家和自身的共同发展，正确的消费观就起了重要作用。
首先，要有促进消费增长的意识，这是必须的。
从文化层面分析中美消费观念的差异
从文化层面分析中美消费观念的差异摘要中美社会历史背景、价值观念、道德观念、以及家庭教育背景的差异，引起了两国人们消费观念的不同。
论文从文化的角度，主要论述了中美两国人们在存钱、旅游、以及追求新潮时尚等方面消费观念的差异。
论文重点研究了文化与消费观念的关系，以及文化对消费观念的影响，使人们进一步认识到不同文化背景蕴含不同的消费观念，并能正确、理性地看待本国文化与本国人们的消费观念，打破对其他国家人们不同消费观念持有的偏见，理解、尊重并借鉴不同文化背景下人们的消费观念。
关键词：中美文化；文化差异；消费观念差异On the Differences of Chinese and American Consumption Conceptions from the Perspective of CultureABSTRACTOwing to the geography differences, society development differences, cultural value differences, ethic differences, family education differences, Chinese and American nations’ consumption conceptions differ from each other in three aspects: difference in depositing conception, difference in traveling consuming, and difference in catching fashion. This study mainly elaborates on the relationship between culture and consumption, emphasizing the cultures’ influence on consumption conception from the perspective of culture. The aim of this thesis includes three aspects: firstly, making people view their own culture and consumption conception correctly and rationally; secondly, breaking people’s prejudice towards other nation’s consumption conception; finally, making people understand, and respect people’s consumption conception under different cultures.Key words:Chinese-American culture; culture difference; consumption conception differenceCONTENTS1 Introduction (1)2 Chinese and American Culture Differences (3)2.1 Geography differences (3)2.2 Society development differences (4)2.3 Cultural value differences... . (4)2.4 Ethics differences (5)2.5 Family education d ifferences (6)3 Chinese and American Consumption Conception Differences (7)3.1 Difference in depositing conception (7)3.2 Difference in traveling consuming (8)3.3 Difference in catching fashion (8)4 Influences of Different Cultures on Consumption Conceptions (10)4.1 Influence of geography on consumption conception (10)4.2 Influence of society development on consumption conception (11)4.2 Influence of value on consumption conception (11)4.3 Influence of traditional family education on consumption conception (13)Conclusion (15)References (16)Introduction“Culture is the total accumulation of beliefs, values, behaviors, institutions and communication patterns that are shared, learned and passed down through the generations in identifiable group of people.”(Che Lijun, 2008:3) It is a well-known fact that people across nations and countries have different cultures, which influence human life in various aspects. Besides, consumption conception is one of the deepest aspects being influenced. Owing to the different cultures of China and America, their society and history differences, cultural value differences, ethics differences, and family education differences, the consumption concept of Chinese and American is also different in three aspects: depositing conception aspect, traveling consuming aspect, catching fashion aspect.Until now, many Chinese and foreign scholars, such as Zhu Chen (1996), Chen Qinde(2005) , Miao Qing(2005) , Hao Peiyan(2007) , Yang Guangqiong (2008) have ever done researches on Chinese- American culture differences and Chinese-American consumption conception differences . But each of them approaches it in his own way without keeping abreast of what others are doing on the study of culture and consumption concept. The former studies, which haven't combined culture differences with consumption conception differences, may cause some misunderstanding which can't make people achieve a better understanding of the relationship between culture and consumption conceptions. Based on the researches of the previous experts and scholars, this paper is to make a systematic study on the differences of Chinese-American consumption conceptions from cultural respect. This paper has five parts:The first part is an introduction. It shows readers the relationship between culture and consumption conception. The second part mainly analyses Chinese-American culture differences from geography, society development, value, ethics and family education aspects. The third part will talk about Chinese-American consumption conception differences from three aspects. The fourth part concerns with different culture's influences on consumption conception. The final part serves as a conclusion. It draws a conclusionthat the nature of consumption is culture. Only having a good knowledge of culture differences can we evaluate people's consumption conception correctly.2 Chinese and American Culture Differences“Culture usually means the unique life form in a particular society, including ideas, recognition, emotion, and behavioral faith, which are different from those of other society.”(Che Lijun, 2008:2) In our daily life, culture is ubiquitous, multidimensional, and all-pervasive, as we have it almost anywhere and anytime. It is understood differently by people throughout the world .Americans believe that culture is a fast-moving train, which is closely connected with what is going on for the time being .The better you adjust to the present world, the more you understand culture .However, Chinese people believe that culture is closely related to the past .The more you know about Confucianism or the past, the more cultured you are consider to be. To the outside observers, Americans may seem like a nation of amnesiacs; they care more about the next big invention. To Chinese, the past is always something to be memorized. They are always proud of the four great inventions they made in ancient times. Therefore, the culture differences between China and America are various, which may be reflected from the following aspects:2.1 Geography differencesChina and America have different geography conditions. America has a vast territory; and most territory physiognomy is low and flat. It lies in the temperate zone where there is enough rain. It supplies good resource condition for the development of American agriculture and has no limit to its development. It also has abundant water resource, which supplies reliable security for the development of American industry and resident usage. The mineral and energetic sources are also very rich, such as iron, copper, lead, zinc, mine, petroleum and natural gas etc. For China, remote location, and the relatively closed environment are the significant features. Geographic environmental conditions in China just like this: in the West and the North, there are plateau, mountains and desert, while in the East and the South, there is sea. All of these are barriers for Chinese.2.2 Society development differencesWe all know that America is an immigration country, where people have adventure spirit. Its history is very short, for about 300 years .For this, we would have to turn to the historical development of the United States. Its origins can be traced back to the 1776. In 1776, the US gained independence from the British rule. After 200 years of development, the United States has developed far beyond its previous in the aspects of economy, politics and military power. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the United States has become the sole superpower in the world. American is also the first modern democracy country in the world. With prosperous industry, America’s economy is full of vigor, which excludes the natural economy prematurely and breaks the self-sufficient pattern.However, China, as a feudal society with closed natural economy, has developed for about thousands of years.Its self-sufficient producing style forces most Chinese to spend all their life on farming. Once someone lost his ability of self-development or even lost his land, his family cannot survive.2.3 Cultural value differencesIn china, we pay much attention to a person’s reputation, modesty, advocate selfless-service and encourage people to make up for their defect and suffering by adjusting their inner mind. In Chinese history, Confucius concepts played a dominant role in the formation of social ideology. Confucianism believes that one should immerse into the whole society to exist. And one cannot realize his own value of existence if he does not immerse and become part of the society .China’s strong emphasis on the group, cooperation and coordination, in the process of social development, has built up their group-oriented value. As a basic value system, Confucianism has permeated all Asia for centuries .It is a philosophy of humanity which survives on the basis of good interpersonal relationship. “REN”(benevolence), one of its principles and the core of Confucianism, means the harmony of interpersonal passion .In daily life, it has intimate connection with mutual benefit which indicates that one must have the ability to think in other’s shoes, take care ofothers, and give sympathy to others. Another principle is “YI” (righteousness) which is part of human nature brings people back to “the good nature of humankind at beginning of birth”. It can make person see through problems and integrate with others by transcending the present interest and breaking through personal limitations. According to Confucianism, this kind of social relationship based on common interest, is very important and conductive to group coordination and harmonious interpersonal relation .So, in China, because of the high emphasis on group concept and social coordination, collectivism has gained a good and long –standing reputation.However, Americans focus on materials, and stress individualism. The unique experience of American history has determined the formation of their concept of individualism, the basis of American ideology. In order to escape the religious persecution from central Europe, the first group of settlers set up their own colony on the American continent .And this special historic experience of emphasizing on dependence has given a profound influence on American cultural value .In America, each person is viewed as having a unique set of talents and potentials. The striving for self –realization is accompanied by a subjective sense of rightness and personal well-being. Individualism also encourages people to express their own opinions and to make their own decisions independent of external influences.2.4 Ethics differencesChinese family moral education takes human relations as a foundation and emotions as principal to process family interpersonal relationship. Chinese family ethics are based on human relations, and they take emotion for the law to deal with family relationships. Chinese ties to each other with blood as basic coordinates. In dealing with family relations, the Chinese people’s genetic-based sentiments led to unusual attention. However, Chinese people have never followed a "reason" for the love, “A kind father and a filial son, a tender brother and a respecting brother, a gentle husband and a tender wife”(父慈子孝，兄爱弟敬，夫和妻柔) (Weienyase,2000:127))standard has enabled the Chinese to follow. Chinese families used to cultivate good habits and establish relationships of caring other people. Ittrains personality of each family member and at last units a family as a whole.However, American family moral education takes individual as the center. In an American family, individual is the foundation and has the highest value, whose existence does not rely on other people. The family may make all sorts of sacrifices for them, but does not request much obeying. The independent individual can enjoy freedom and equality in the family. The American parents foster and educate their children, but do not attempt any repayment. Children, after 18 years old, leave home to rent a room to live alone, to study or to work, and nobody can accuse the parents of their being unreasonable. Clearly, the common Chinese family stress and believe that, "good relationship is the most important"(和为贵).(Weienyase, 2000:9) American family stresses personality, and has strong rational idea.2.5 Family education differencesChinese family education takes "the benevolence of the Confucianism”as the core; the basic of benevolence is loving people. This enormously affirmed and transferred family member's intrinsic noble motive. In China, the corresponding relation of rights and duties are not important in China morality. When we fulfill our obligation, we make other people enjoy the rights. This is a basic faith of Chinese family.Americans take fair as the moral principle; everything is according with fair. And this “fair" is rational, even indifferent. American believes the fair is in opposition to and in agreement with the duty and the right. American is clear about the relation of the right and the duty. They work to get the reward, which also includes love. If they ask other people for help they also have to pay some reward. For example, they have paid for using relative's telephone, and the children demand the reward if they help their parents to wash car. American views that duty and right is not inconsistent with their intrinsic love. To pursue the coexistence of the right and the duty is the American family’s fair principle.3 Chinese and American Consumption Conception DifferencesConsumption conception means people’s ideology and attitude towards their disposable income, including people’s pursuit of the goods value. It also refers to a consumption activity, which makes people evaluate and value their action towards consumption manner, consumption process, and consumption trend. The process of shaping consumption conception is closely related to the level of productivity. Owing to the different level of productivity, the two nations’ consumption conceptions are different. The characteristics of Chinese consumption conceptions are conservative, with high saving rate. On the contrary, to most Americans, they tend to consume excessively. The main differences are as following:3.1 Difference in depositing conceptionAmerica is an emerging industrial country, without traditional agricultural period (while China is a large agricultural country), and therefore they do not have the conception of depositing money. Americans have courage to active advance.However, China, as a feudal society with closed natural economy, has developed for about thousands years. Chinese people from the very young has been instilled such a conception–to keep up. Since ancient times, Chinese society is also to appraise the economy, which is many Asians’ concept ion to money. To sum it up in one word that is "deposit." There is an old story that can best prove this phenomenon: it is about a Chinese old woman and an American old woman. When they were dying, the Chinese old woman said, “It took me 60 years to save enough money to buy a big house”, and the Western old woman said, “It took me 60 years to pay for the debt of my house”. (王埃亮，2000) We can see from the story that Chinese people traditionally think that they buy what they can afford and don’t want to be on a debt. However, Western people think that they would like to enjoy their lives even by loaning money from bank or making an installment. In myopinion, it’s a good idea for people to e njoy the life more comfortable while, we should also realize that the real happy life is contributed to the hard work by our own hands.3.2 Difference in traveling consumingAmerica is an immigrant nation. The development of the western region makes constant flow become a living. Therefore, American have no conception of the ancient precept "it is good to stay home for a thousand days ,and it is difficult to go out even for a moment(在家千日好，出外一时难)". With the development of family vehicle and highway, as well as other infrastructure industry and technology, travel becomes very simple. So tourism has become a major industry in America. However, Chinese advocate economy. They don’t think it very important to conduct cultural entertainment expense and service expense. In their point of view, traveling expense is also the service expense, which is spiritual expense, and it belongs to high income people. They also believe that, tourism expense is the expense after people’s basic life needs are satisfied; and at present, traveling is a kind of basic accumulation expense, but it is not a kind of regular expense. People think the traveling expends, especially traveling aboard is luxurious expense. To borrow money to travel, for most people in China is an incredible thing. In the eyes of most ordinary people, tourism consumption is not necessary in their lives.3.3 Difference in catching fashionAmerican likes to catch new things in order to be different. In America, Only the work- clothes have the possibility to be put on for above 3 years, the leisure clothes generally only are put on for 1 - 2 years. Moreover per capita has various seasons clothing above 10 sets. Their clothing is massively from Chinese and all developing nations, the price of which is extremely cheap.In the durable consumable aspect, the renewal speed is very quick. According to Sun Bangzhu’s investigation, the proportion of people having the cell phones is very high, nearly 100% university students, 50 - 70% middle-school students, 80% adults have cellphones, and after just one year they will get a new one. For automobile and other domestic electric products, they don’t use them until they can’t work. Therefore, in American life trash, we can see all kinds of things, such as refrigerator, air conditioner, television, and washer and so on.In the 80's, American pursued luxuriously. The majority of Americans have only the brand in mind, especially some young people; they didn’t put on clothes, which are the non- name brand. But in the 90's, American gradually has been faint in expense idea called brand consciousness, and the price consciousness is in the upper hand. However, Chinese are just on the opposite. Chinese consumers’expense behavior has two extremely remarkable characteristics: One is admiring fashion, displaying the new conception and new product craving, but the original product loyalty is low; the other is worshiping the psychology of foreign countries, favoring the purchase of international brand.4 Influences of Different Cultures on Consumption ConceptionIn sections two and three, we have explained in the different culture and consumption conceptions between China and America. So in this part we will mainly focus on how the culture influences the consumption conception.4.1 Influence of geography on consumption conceptionAmerica is an advanced agricultural country, which owns vast, low and flat territory, abundant water resource, and mineral and energetic sources.These sources are taking great grade in the world. Variety and rich resources also supply great foundation to the American industry and great production for consumption .Therefore; they don’t have the idea of depositingHowever, China, because of its relatively closed environment, it inevitably brings closure psychological and cultural anthropology. In China, the psychological and the marine cultural development do not play the important roles, which also related to the Huang - Huai basin, whose natural conditions is good for farming, so the people began to get active and formed a deep attachment to the land. Chinese people are lack of sufficient interest in the sea. Operations at sea are not only difficult but also dangerous, far less safe than agriculture. We assume that, in the low standard of living condition, the need of security should be quite strong. Since people have land for farming, so why do they seek danger? What’s more, the farming life also helps farmers like simple lifestyle and calm rhythm of life, and the sea-based trade will be disturbed and fast rhythm. China's natural conditions, climate, topography, and other aspects are not good for agricultural production, but in general far more favorable than negative. Given China’s own conditions, agriculture is the best choice. Chinese people have a deep sense of food .They think "food is the most important thing of people’s life”(民以食为天)" and "relying on the nature"（靠天吃饭）（李肖，2002）derived from the experience of agricultural life. Chinese food culture is full of life, which is a factor of fundamental aspect of people's life. This factor is constrained andarranged by the “nature”(天). Therefore, the farmers had to take into account the instable climate and mutations factors. The surplus grain will be stored up for the rainy day, and the Chinese community has always been a form of self-sufficiency. Therefore, Chinese people from the very young have been instilled to keep up such a conception. Since ancient times, Chinese society is also to appraise the economy, whi ch is many Asians’ concept ion of money. To sum it up in one word that is "deposit."4.2 Influence of society development on consumption conceptionWe all know that America’s neoteric economy is full of vigor. It breaks the self-sufficient pattern. Exploiting the world market and increasingly extending are all impacting the nation guard and limitation. Besides, America is an emerging industrial country, without traditional agricultural period (while China is a large agricultural country). Owing to these reasons, Americans do not have the conception of depositing money. They have the courage to advance. However, Chinese value agriculture more than industry and commerce. In China, two thirds of its population remains making a living on land. Old China is a feudal society with closed natural economy which has developed for thousands of years. Its self –sufficient producing style forces most Chinese to spend all their lives on farming. Once someone lost his ability of self-development or even lost his land, his family cannot survive. Owing to the difference of the society development, Chinese and American consumption conceptions are different. Americans don’t care much about depositing, while Chinese value it very much.4.3 Influence of value on consumption conceptionChinese highlight a person’s reputation, modesty, paying much attention to the spiritual consumption. They advocate selfless-service and encourage people to make up for their defect and suffering by adjusting their inner mind. For this, we could trace back to the origin of the traditional Chinese values. Confucianism as the mainstream of Chinese culture,along with Taoism and Buddhism, has established the framework of Chinese traditional culture and has built the mentality of the Chinese people. “Benevolence” is the core, and ethics is the standard. Adopted and reinforced by kings and governors since the Han Dynasty, especially in the Song and Ming dynasties, classic Confucianism became the theoretical pattern, whose ultimate concern was how to become a noble man or gentleman, how to cultivate one’s attitude or outlook. Confucius said: “the man with benevolence is the one who loves all men.”(Weienyase, 2000:69) The way to carry out benevolence is to establish others if one wants to establish oneself and to enhance others if one would enhance oneself. Do not do to others what you would not wish to be done yourself. The great learning teaches illustrious virtue, to improve the people, and to remain in the state of highest excellence. To achieve a moral ethics and improve one’s spiritual state as the Confucian ideals have made up of the core value of Chinese culture, due to which China becomes one of the cultural and economic centers of the ancient world. To the virtuous ancient Chinese, human interest and desires were of less important, and hence not worth pursuing.However, American is an interest-oriented country. They focus on material consumption. They consider it almost a right to be materially well off and physically comfortable. They expect swift and convenient transportation, a variety of clean and healthy food, and comfortable homes equipped with numerous laborsaving devices including both central heating and hot water. The government is expected to ensure access to food and drug products. Activities of all people and agencies can affect the public welfare. Associated with the values of physical comfort and health is the acceptance of cleanliness as being nearly identical with health. All the values of material property with material well-being yield the powerful social norm of progress. Progress may be said to be universal .Throughout the world, people wish for basic physical comfort, necessary material possessions, and good health and medical services that reduce the physical harshness of birth, disease and death .Both science and technology serve the value of progress .Based on this value, most Americans tend to believe that the basic problem of the world is economic and that technology offers solutions. Associated with material comfort,the American genius for devising and employing machines also provide efficiency and convenience in daily life .American advisors and technicians exhibit a strong tendency to perceive their tasks as requiring the use of machinery. Their future orientation creates a feeling that progress can make everything better than now. Americans find it important to cope with the flow “keeping up with the times” (Borden, George A) and to look ahead “keeping an eye on the future”, (Borden, George A) but the temporal orientation downstream should be qualified as “near future”. So most Americans feel that through their effort they can bring about a better future without compromising the welfare and progress of others .That there is enough for everyone is a valid belief for people living in a large country with an expanding economy and abundant recourses. With no restriction on the goods available to all, individuals can progress, that is, acquire a large quantity of the goods for themselves without concern for depriving others of the same opportunity. The Americans stress on material things is associated with a belief in the inviolacy of private property, a value commonly asserted to be at the root of the constitution and the American conception of democracy. They react negatively to the idea that free enterprises will be denied to anyone in the world .Americans regard free enterprises as an inalienable right that is worth fighting for. At the interpersonal level, many Americans also encounter difficulties in their dealing with persons who do not share with them a clear distinction between private and public property. On a large scale, Americans may react quite negatively to bribery of government officials and other methods of directing public funds into private pockets .With the scientific support of the theory of evolution, Americans see progress as ascending the primitive past along a path in time toward a future in which the impediments of nature are dominated by individual will and technology.4. 4 Influence of traditional family education on consumption conceptionParents in China are good at persuading. They attach importance to their children excessively. They even accept the obligation of educating their children without any complaint. In each stage, they protect children from hurt. For the benefit of the children, they try their best to solve the problems for children. Chinese children also respect the oldgeneration and their experience, and they are happy to accept the current experience of their parents. Today, Chinese parents give more attention to education than before. But they lack scientific educational ideas. Sometimes their ideas of children education are wrong. There is a universal phenomenon that Chinese parents lose the family education direction. People hope that their sons will grow up to be successful persons, which always causes children to feel tired of study, or even to give up the study. Both American family and Chinese family take moral education. In America, the children are cultivated the spirit of independence, and confidence. They explore these when they are young. The children have the right to choose what they want freely. Today, the children in US have more choices than their parents, but the complex situation makes it more difficult to make a decision. The parents do not make decisions for their children instead they give freedom to them. The last goal of American family education is to make children to be a useful person. The Americans give more encouragement than protections to the children .Americans encourage the children to make all kinds of attempt, which can raise their ability, interest, and the most important confidence.From the above analysis, we can draw the conclusion that family education has great influence on cultivating the consumption conception. Americans’education style makes them consume boldly. They have enough confidence to pay the debt. While for Chinese, we do anything hesitantly. And we like asking parents to give advice.。
中美边际消费倾向之比较
在关于消费理论的研究中，边际消费倾向备受关注，这不仅是因为它对消费函数的形成至关重要，也因为它是分析收入分配对总消费的影响的一个重要理论依据。
居民边际消费倾向就是指，居民家庭每增加一个人所增加的商品消费量。而边际消费倾向的提升就是指所增加的商品消费量在质和量的提高，或规模的扩展。居民消费具有不同的地域性，其收入与消费以及价格具有差异性。以表现为不同的特征。
我国居民边际消费倾向提升策略研究
中国贵阳政府门户网站 |更新时间：2009-01-13|来源：中经专网
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[摘要]近年来，我国最终消费率和居民消费率都处于下降趋势。在当前宏观经济形势趋冷的背景下，提升居民消费水平具有特殊意义。本文对居民边际消费倾向的内涵和特征进行了阐述，并就当前国内外的研究现状进行了梳理。在此基础上，针对如何提升我国居民边际消费倾向提出了政策建议。
三、对策及建议
（一）把握好潜在经济增长率与适度消费增长区间
潜在经济增长率与适度消费增长区间的测算和把握，是正确分析经济波动态势的重要基础。所谓潜在经济增长率是指：在一定时期内，在各种资源正常限度地充分利用，且不引发严重通货膨胀的情况下，所能达到的经济增长率。潜在经济增长表明一定时期内经济增长的长期趋势。现实的经济运行和消费水平围绕潜在经济增长率上下波动。如果现实的经济增长率过高地超过了潜在经济增长率，则各种资源供给的瓶颈制约就会非常严重，经济运行就会绷得很紧，产业结构失衡，引发严重的通货膨胀，边际消费增长难以为继；反之，若现实的经济增长率过低地低于潜在经济增长率，消费率过低则失业问题不好解决，有可能带来通货紧缩，企业经营困难，国家财政收入减少，各项社会事业难以得到发展。现实的经济增长率以及消费水平可在一定的、适当的幅度内围绕潜在经济增长率上下波动，既不引起资源的严重制约，也不引起资源的严重闲置，物价总水平保持在社会可承受的范围内，这一波动可称为适度经济增长区和适度消费增长区。
中美消费观
美国人喜欢超前消费借贷消费，他们已经习惯了这种消费方式，并且已经形成了一种消费文化，这在某种程度上反映了美国人的价值观，讲究自由和物质增长，注重效率和实用主义，看重物质享受等。
一美国消费文化的特点美国人的生活方式，曾被美国媒体形容为：只要太阳一升起，消费者就开始购物。
美国人消费的主要特征是超前消费、借贷消费，即寅吃卯粮。
美国消费文化的主要特征是超前消费，由于政府消费政策的鼓励和社会风气的影响，美国人提倡超前消费，为了维持高消费的生活水平，疯狂工作已经不能满足他们的需要，他们开始向着借贷出发。
实际上，美国消费文化的产生和发展已经很长的历史，借贷消费也曾经受过伦理的谴责和社会的挑战，但慢慢的这一消费文化逐渐被所接受，这种消费文化曾经给美国经济的发展做出贡献，但是随着美国经济监管的不力，这种消费方式已经转变为抑制美国经济发展的瓶颈。
美国人信仰超前消费，并此而自豪。
美国大多数居民利用房屋抵押贷款的再融资来获得更多的贷款，以此维持自己的生活。
二美国消费文化的形成美国消费文化的形成经历着长期的变革，美国发展成为一个经济强国，历史上有很多人物做出了巨大的贡献，比如汽车大亨福特，他首次将大众消费和大规模生产结合起来，缓解了供过于求的矛盾，使美国的经济发展从以生产拉动经济为主转变为以消费刺激消费为主。
随着西方国家工业革命的完成，美国的消费文化已经基本形成，企业对消费的倡导和鼓励达到了前所未有的高度，美国政府更是鼓励人们大肆消费，住豪华的别墅，因此，刺激消费成为美国经济发展的一个重要支柱，消费甚至被当做一种爱国的行为。
即使没有钱，他们也可以借助借贷抵押或分期付款的方式来消费，美国人纷纷消费，极大的促进了美国经济的发展。
三从美国消费文化渗透出的价值观(一)物质享乐主义(二)个人成就感(三)努力工作(四)效率和实用主义(五)自由对于中国来说，中国的传统文化如中庸（自古儒家就有“中庸之道”之说）、重伦理、倡导道德至上、重人缘，倡导和谐统一（中国人相信人缘是一个人的巨大财富）等都对中国的消费心理和行为产生了影响：1、重储蓄：据统计59%的消费者把银行活期/定期存款作为最主要的理财方式。
浅析中美消费观差异
圜圈嘲
浅析 中美 消费观差异
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王 峥
摘 要 ： 近 年 来 中 美 两 国的 差 异 日益 缩 小 ， 却 始 终 存 在 中国 ， 孩子是家庭的一切 ． 代表着希望 ． 家 长 往 在着很 多不容忽视的差异 ． 如 消 费观 念 的 不 同 ： 美国 往 把 自己 的孩 子 当做 自己的 第 二 次 机会 ． 去 竭 力 供 养 人 习惯 于超 前 消 费 ． 而 中 国人 偏 爱 储 蓄 。 这 种 差 异 性 自己的子女使之成才 。同时在 中国的教育体 制下 ． 子 表现在 方方面面 ． 诸 如 购 买住 房 、 供 养 子 女 以及 享 受 女 的 教 育开 销 占据 了家 庭 大 部 分 的 开支 而美 国父 母 生 活 的 方 法 此 两种 消 费观 念 因其 多方 面 的 形 成 原 因 更 希 望 自己 的孩 子 通 过 自 己的 努力 ． 例 如 打 工 或 做 家 不 同致使 其 各有 千秋 ． 所 以 两 种 消 费观 念之 间 的 相 互 务 来 获得 额 外 的收 入 ． 而不 是 直接 向父 母 索 要 学 习至 关 重要 （ 三） 享 受生 活— — 旅 游 和 时 尚 关键词 ： 中 羡 消 费观 中美 价值 观 差异 美 国人 习惯 在 假 期 时 外 出 度假 ． 这 可 以放 松 身 心 舒缓心情 。 并 且 增 加 家庭 成 员 之 间 的感 情 时 至 今 日 中美 消 费 观 的 差 异 性 伴 随 着 交通 业 的发 展 与 益 完 善 ． 旅 游 变 得 越 来 越 简 美 国人 注重 生 活 质 量 ． 性格开放 。 崇 尚享 乐 ， 敢 于 单 。 致 使 旅 游 业 成 为 了美 国支 柱 型 产 业 之 一 而 在 中 花 明 天 的 钱 享 受 今 天 的 生 活 ．是 超 前 消 费 的 典 型 代 国 ． 旅游 则是一项奢侈活动 ． 民众 通 常 只 有 在 满 足 所 表； 而 中 国 人 性 格 自古保 守 ． 以 勤 俭 为美 德 ， 他 们 习惯 有 基 础 需 求 之 后 才 予 以 考 虑 ． 但 大 部 分 人 仍 不 能 轻 易 于 把 钱 存 起 来 以 备 不 时 之 需 ．是 保 守 消 费 的 典 型 代 满 足地 生 活 基 本 需 求 ． 所 以在 他 们 的 观 念 里 旅游 是 一 表 。据 报 道 ， 截至 ２ ０ ０ ７年 底 ， 美 国家 庭 部 门 负债 率 已 件 可 有 可 无 的活 动 飞 涨至可 支配个 人 收入 的 １ ３ ３ ％ ． 比十 年 前 上 升 了 美 国人 喜 欢 追 求 新 鲜 事物 。据 一 项 调 查 表 明 ： 在 ４ ０ ％。（ 严． ２ ｏ ｌ ｏ ） 而 中 国 的 消费 率 一 直 低 于 国际 水 平 。 美国， 只 有 工 作 服 有 可 能 被 使 用 ３年 以 上 ． 平 常 的衣 且 呈 逐 年 下 降 的趋 势 据世界银行统计 ． 上世纪 ９ ０年 服 最 多 穿 着 １ — ２年 ．并 且每 一 个 季 节 的人 均 服 装 都 代 以来 ． 世界各 国平 均消费率 稳定 在 ７ ３ ％一 ７ ９ ％， 一些 高 达 １ ０套 以上 它 们 大 多 以低 廉 的 价格 从 发展 中 国 发 展 中 国家 的最 终 消 费 率 也 达 ６ ５ ％一 ７ Ｏ ％ ． 而 中 国 的 家 引进 ． 而 那些 国 际知 名 品牌 在 美 国的 售 价 也 相 对 较 最终消费率在 ２ ０ ０ ８年仅 为 ４ ８ ． ６ ％。 （ 严． ２ ０ １ ０ ） 低． 所 以尽 管 美 国 人 民 购 买 很 多 的 服 装 ． 但 是 这 笔 开 卜一 ） 购 买 住 房 支 只 占他 们 收 入 的小 部 分 。 而 中 国 的 情 况 则 恰 恰 相 “ 当来 自中 国 和美 国 的两 位 老 妇 人 死 后 在 天 堂 相 反 。 随着 国际化的影响 ． 很 多 国 际 知 名 品 牌 以高 昂 的 遇 时， 她 们 各 自谈起 了 自己 的整 个 人 生 美 国老 妇 人 价 格 进 驻 中 国 ，而 很 多本 土服 装 价 格 也 不 断 攀 升 ． 使 说： ‘ 年 轻 的 时候 我借 了好 多钱 买 房 子 ． 我 余 下 的 人 生 得 服 装 作 为 基础 型 消 费 占据 中 国人 收 入 的 一定 比例 都在还债 ． 虽 然 辛 苦 但 是 当我 看 到 自 己漂 亮 舒 适 的房 二 、 中 美 消 费观 差 异 产 生 的 原 因 子时 ， 所 有 的沮 丧 都 不 见 了 ’ ： 而 中 国 老 妇人 则 说 ： ‘ 我 ｆ 一） 经 济 体 制 辈子都在努力工作存钱 ． 看 到 存 折 上 的 数 字 一 点 点 美 国是 典 型 的市 场 型 经 济 “ 市场经济 （ 又称 为 自 加大 ． 我觉得一切 努力都是值得 的 ． 在 我 人 生 的 最 后 由市 场 经 济 或 自 由企 业 经 济 ） 是一种经 济体系 ． 在 这 几 年 我 终 于 买 了 自己 的房 子 现在 我 的孩 子 正 住 在 里 种 体 系 下 产 品 和 服 务 的生 产 及 销 售 完 全 由 自 由市 场 ２｝ Ｉ Ｉ Ｊ Ｈ 蔷 ） 【 Ｉ Ｊ ｝ 二 面” ’ 。 的 自由 价格 机制 所 引 导 ． 而不 是像 计 划 经 济 一 般 由 国 这 则 小 故 事 反 映 了 中美 两 种 不 同 的购 房 观 现金流量 、 守 型 消 费 的 中 国 人喜 欢存 钱 买 房 ． 而 超 前 消 费 的 美 国 物 资 都 由市 场 自己 掌 控 ．它 们 的 分 配 更 为合 理 而 流 人 则 喜 欢 贷 款买 房 在美 国 消 费贷 款 是 一 种 常 见 的社 畅 ， 并 且 更 容 易 刺 激 科 学 技术 的进 步 ， 降 低 资 源 消耗 。 会现象 ． 美 国人 贷 款 购 物 以提 高 自己 的 生 活 质 量 。相 中 国正 处 于 由计 划 型 经 济 向 市 场 型 经 济 的 转 型 反 ．中 国人 则偏 向存 款 达 到金 额 后 才 一 次 性 消 费 ． 安 过 程 中 。 中 国从 建 国初 期 到 第 十 四 届 全 国 代 表 大会 ． 全 地 远 离 债 务 直 处 于计 划 型 经 济 。“ 计划经济 ， 或计 划 经济 体制 ， ｆ 二） 供 养 子女 又称 指 令型 经 济 ， 是 一种 经 济体 制 ， 而这 种 体 系 下 ． 国 “ 在 两 位 在 天 堂 探 讨 人 生 的 老 妇 人 的 葬 礼 结 束 家 在 生 产 、 资 源 分 配 以及 产 品 消 费 各 方 面 ． 都 是 由 政 后 ．中 国老 人 的女 儿 对 其 丈 夫 说 ： ‘ 感谢我们的妈妈 ． 府 或 财们现在有新 房子住 ． 我们也要像 她一样 ． 努 力 工 行 的 过 程 中 ． 逐 渐 暴 露 出很 多 缺 点 ， 它 不 能 够 满 足 市 作 给我 们 的孩 子 买 房 ’ ： 而美 国老 人 的女 Ｊ Ｌ ￣ ］ Ｊ 对 自己 场 中各 个 板 块 的 高 速 发 展 。 对一 些 国有 企 业 的偏 顾 ． 的 丈夫 说 ： ‘ 像 我 们 的妈 妈 一 样 ． 我 们 也 应 该 去 买 自己 也 使 市 场 失 去 了应 有 的 竞 争 力 。 现今 ． 中国 政 府 正 努 的房 子 。 然 后 努 力赚 钱还 清贷 款 ” ’ 。 力扭转这一局 面 ， 推 行 了社 会 主 义 市 场 经 济 “ 社会