In recent decades, human population has been growing exponentially throughout the world, and industrialization and economic development have significantly affected the views and ways of our consumption. As medicine and health service advances, people are living longer. However, longevity is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the older people have more after-retirement years, leading to different patterns of consumption for them. On the other hand, with lengthened years comes, increased threat of chronic diseases and impairments impose limitations on what older people can do for themselves, especially if they live alone, and on what they consume.

Along with the aging population, we have also seen low fertility in many countries, like Taiwan, Japan, and European nations, in more recent years. Comparing with the years with baby boomers (1946-1964, post-World War II), the role and concept of children and their values in family are certainly very different today. The new generation is facing high degree of income inequality, reduction of food and resource abundance, climate and environmental changes, changes in social responsibility, and changes in laws, policies and public programs. They are also growing up with different consumption products, markets and economic environments. This implies a new set of consumer concepts required for those newer generations.

Once in the past, production played the leading role in market and exchange. In the current marketplace, marketing and customer management plays a more critical role in determining business success. This is because understanding consumer demand or consumption trends directly implies earning revenue and working properly with the public. Hence, study of consumer behavior has become one of the most important subjects for any organization and business.
In light of the changes in population and marketplace, this course provides students the basic understanding and study of consumption and consumer theory along with the knowledge of population studies. Throughout the semester, students are encouraged to inquire, explore, discuss and solve questions and issues in relation to population and consumption.