Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays

This book explores how consumer spending during the holidays generates significant economic waste. Christmas is a time of cheer, family gatherings, and gift-giving. While gift-giving is a tradition, it can be wasteful. Economist Joel Waldfogel explains how consumer spending during the holidays generates vast amounts of economic waste, amounting to $85 billion annually.

Waldfogel argues that gift-giving differs from buying for oneself. We make less informed choices, use credit to buy gifts worth less than the money spent, and leave recipients unsatisfied, creating “deadweight loss.” Despite acknowledging the challenges of changing current trends, Waldfogel offers viable gift-giving alternatives that can help maintain the economy without excessive spending and reclaim the true spirit of the holiday season.

(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)