[tomtheelder]

> Also: I suspect (but don't have the means to prove) a positive correlation between advertising spending and national GDP.

Is the implication that you believe that's causal? That you think reducing advertising spending would be economically detrimental?

I suspect that isn't true, since it's basically just an arms race. Companies are forced into competing along the axis of marketing (they also choose to since it's more effective than competing on quality), which is a huge money sink.

Also being anti-advertising isn't anti-capitalist. Simply believing that a market should have rules doesn't mean you are anti-market. Personally, I really doubt that advertising is an effective means of job and growth creation. It might even be negative. I suspect capitalism would be healthier without it.

I highly doubt it increases overall consumption, it rather just orients buyers in particular directions, often directions that are detrimental to themselves and to society as a whole.

[nickelcitymario]

> Is the implication that you believe that's causal?

Less implication and more exactly what I was trying to say.

> I suspect that isn't true, since it's basically just an arms race.

You may be right, you may be wrong. But I don't understand how anyone can say advertising causes people to spend money on things they don't need and also that advertising does not positively impact the economy. Those seem contradictory, and yet that appears to be the argument being made.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯