I chose this website because there is a lot of information that I could use for my paper. In addition, the title speaks for itself. The author Christian E Weller holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, so he should know about the topic that he writes about on this website. One part of the paper that caught my eye was �Sharp increases in the prices of big ticket items also put middle-class families in a bind. From March 2001 to September 2005, the costs of the top five consumer items � medical care, housing, food, cars and household operations� rose on average by 11.2 percent� First and foremost, families go into debt to finance the purchase of a new home or the renovation of an existing one. Second, families use debt to invest in a new car, the primary lifeline to their jobs for the vast majority of families. And third, middleclass families use debt to invest in their or their children�s education.� In addition, This type of increase in price can make a family fall into debt. I was so happy that I found this site because it has some valuable information that I can use for my paper.
Worsnop, Richard L. "Consumer Debt." CQ Researcher 6.43 (1996): 1009-1032. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Learning Resource Center, Visalia, CA. 23 Oct. 2006 <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1996111500>.
I chose this academic journal for my paper because the journal talks about two things I need in my paper consumerism and debt. A part of the journal that I found most interesting was �a survey issued Sept. 26 by Bankcard Holders of America, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group in McLean, Va., found that 53 percent of all credit card users questioned said they were in debt because of �overspending.� Medical bills and college expenses each were cited by 11 percent of the respondents, while 9 percent blamed their indebtedness on a job layoff. Other reasons cited for outsized credit card balances included divorce costs, home-repair bills and travel or vacation outlays.� The top reasons for falling into debt were medical bills and college expenses. To a typical person college can be seen as a necessity because without and education a person might only be able to get a low paying job. In addition, the low paying job might make a person fall into deeper debt.
1 "CQ Researcher Academic Freedom V.15-35." CQ Researcher. 2006. 25 Oct. 2006 <http://www.cqpress.com/product/Researcher-Academic-Freedom-v15-35.html>.
2 "Sociology." Buffalo.Edu. 2004. UB. 17 Oct. 2006 <http://sociology.buffalo.edu/faculty/wagmiller.shtml>.
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