ABSTRACT
The business literature has shown that in many markets, products from competing producers perform equally well. In such cases, the basis of competition has shifted from functional performance to price, which in turn reduces profit margins. Enhancing production volumes then becomes the only way to enhance overall profits. The result is that in many markets we have seen a shift toward “fastness” and “planned obsolescence”. Fast fashion, fast furniture, and so on, incentivize consumers to buy new stuff that fits the newest fashion before old products are worn out.
