The world is consuming natural resources faster than they can be renewed. Therefore, it is important that products are made to last. Governments should discourage people from constantly buying more up to date or fashionable products. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Over the

last

30

years

Add a comma

,years

show examples

the West has witnessed the East strive for a larger 'piece of the economic pie, aiming for similar living standards to the EU and US.

This

has increased pressure on natural resources and prompted suggestions for governments to limit consumption.

This

idea is severely flawed because it reduces product

safety

and building

products

to

last

would harm the poor.

Firstly

, the suggestion that governments should discourage consumers from purchasing 'up to date

products

' would eliminate the opportunity to improve their

safety

.

This

is because as technology improves, new discoveries can be used to increase their utility. Take

for example

the car industry, where technology

such

as ABS brakes, airbags, seat belts have all been derived from a constant flow of improvements.

Therefore

if the authorities were permitted to limit purchases, car companies would be reluctant to invest in new features, and

safety

would never improve.

Secondly

, it is true we are consuming more, through ever-increasing populations,

nevertheless

, the argument that '

products

should be made to

last

' is redundant. If

products

were built stronger they would be more expensive.

This

would harm the less wealthy consumer,

furthermore

with modern technology these

products

can often be recycled at a later date anyway. Glass, plastic, paper, batteries, and even mobile phones are now collected to be re-purposed, reused and recycled.

Therefore

durable

products

are unnecessary and would harm lower-income demographics. To conclude it is clear that if the public sector were allowed to discourage consumption it would harm product improvements and ultimately consumer

safety

. Meddling with product durability would most likely harm the poor.

Therefore

I am strongly opposed to both of these notions.