HAPPY VIJAYA DASHAMI

The Role of Children in Capitalism in America:

Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of goods and the means of production. Capitalists, workers or laborers, and the consumers complete the total cycle of capitalism. Prior to nineteenth century, the major role of children in capitalism was only as workers. After the federal government passed the law making child labor illegal, the children were shifted from workers to consumers.

Today, children are one of the major consumers in capitalism, and it is apparent that children contribute far more to the national economy as consumers than they ever did as laborers. Every basic and daily thing has been segregated for children. The toy industry is increasing its productivity every year. Psychologists discovered the concept of “natural desire” for children. It has been suggested that little people have their own desires and they are to be fulfilled by their parents. Children need toys, separate clothing, separate playrooms, own furniture, and own eating equipment. Thus, the corporations made the target to the little people and started to produce the things as desired by little ones. Besides, parents take their children to shop and let them pick the stuffs they need. These kinds of trends have shifted the role of children in capitalism, and dramatically children have become the pillar of consumer economy.

 The concept of “natural desire” to the “little ones” has distinctly promoted the role of children in capitalism in America. Capitalism underlies on the principle that the consumption should be more and more.  When the separate category of consumer i.e. children were built in the American economy, it contributed a lot in Capitalism. However, the transformation of children’s role to the consumer was not an easy task. Considering the children’s psychology, the products and desires of children were developed in such a way that today the children from the age group of 2-14 directly influence $188 billion of parental spending. It is of great necessity to increase the consumers and consumption of products to keep the economy healthy in capitalism, and children have added a lot as a consumer.