Conspicuous Consumption and Albanians: Determinant Factors

Developing post-communist countries may have relatively higher levels of conspicuous consumption, because of extreme inequalities in income, relatively stronger social relationships and traditions and the urge to show off of the nouveaux riches, previously condemned. In spite of this, there is a lack of research concerning this behaviour in Albania. This paper briefly discusses one aspect of the phenomenon, the influencing factors, drawing upon relevant analyses from different viewpoints. The impact that these " global" or "local" factors (gender, age, education, social environment, etc.) have on the level of conspicuous consumption of an Albanian household is analyzed, using data from the 2008 Albanian Living Standards Measurement Survey (LSMS 2008). Among the considered factors, gender and education seem to have the greater impact.