Buying gifts? Beware the Orgy of Value Destruction!
by Nov 28th 2009 7:00AM
For most people, the holidays are a time of gifts, fun, and family.
But to Wharton economist Joel Waldfogel, the holidays are celebrated with an "orgy of value destruction."
In his new book Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays, Dr. Waldfogel explains why gift giving is so prone to value destruction -- and how we can make it less of a waste and still enjoy the holidays and gifting.
WalletPop editor-at-large Jason Cochran and I recently spoke with Dr. Waldfogel in a podcast, touching on a wide variety of topics: from crying babies to candy corn to giving cash to drug addicts to regifting.
But to Wharton economist Joel Waldfogel, the holidays are celebrated with an "orgy of value destruction."
In his new book Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays, Dr. Waldfogel explains why gift giving is so prone to value destruction -- and how we can make it less of a waste and still enjoy the holidays and gifting.
WalletPop editor-at-large Jason Cochran and I recently spoke with Dr. Waldfogel in a podcast, touching on a wide variety of topics: from crying babies to candy corn to giving cash to drug addicts to regifting.
