Buy Now, Pay Later: Advertising, Credit, and Consumer Durables in the 1920's

by Martha L. Olney

Olney contends that a century ago, most Americans owned few durable goods, most of which were deemed necessities and few of which were advertised or purchased on an installment plan. Today, Americans own many durable goods, most considered luxury items, widely advertised and purchased on credit. She concludes that a revolution in consumer durable goods occurred in the 1920s and considers what roles advertising and credit played. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Genres: Economics

424 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1991