THE CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION PHENOMENON IN EGYPT: A FIELD STUDY

The conspicuous consumption phenomenon in Egypt has increased with the beginning of implementing the economic opening policy in Egypt in the early 1970s (Society of consumption and imitation). Under the increasingly growing of the economic globalization phenomenon and the spread of multi-national companies which market and promote their products over different mass media, the phenomenon has remarkably increased till its shadows covered the lowincome groups. Therefore, the low-income groups looked for illegal fast-earnings to cope with different patterns of this phenomenon. Consequently, the economic inflation rates have increased with the sharp increase of corruption and illegal earning while looking for fast richness and achieve social dominance and prestige. The research aims to identify the concept and fields of this phenomenon at the economic and social aspects. It aims, then, to clarify the most significant factors affecting this phenomenon and its subsequent economic and social effects and risks. The research has used social survey through the design of a sample questionnaire form for (300) respondents in three different areas in Egypt. The study introduces appropriate recommendations to curb the exacerbation of this phenomenon in the future.