The document discusses consumption patterns in the Caribbean region. It notes that since 1492, the Caribbean has had economic and trade relationships dominated by imperial powers like Britain and more recently the US. This began under mercantilist policies where the colonies could only trade with Britain and import British manufactured goods. While independence changed political relationships, trade patterns did not significantly change and the Caribbean remains reliant on imports. Various strategies have attempted to encourage local production and reduce dependency, but Western products are still widely regarded as superior and modern. Factors like social prestige from brands and feeling the US is the center of the world continue to shape Caribbean consumption patterns and dependency on external countries.

1. CONSUMPTION PATTERNS :

2. The Caribbean region was brought forcibly into interactions with
the “Wider world” in 1492.Since then it has been locked into
colonial relationships with different imperial powers. Even after
some of these countries gained independence the imperial
powers gave up political ownership however they exploited the
structures of trade and commerce that they had set up to
maintain economic power. So for the past 500 years of its history
the “Wider world” has had a major hold on Caribbean society
and culture. Economic power was supported through the thinking
that the ways of the colonizers were better than that of the
locals.

4. Historical trade and consumption
patterns.
The Caribbean has an outward focus where trade
and consumption is concerned. A high percentage
of the goods and services consumed in the
Caribbean originate in the western countries,
particularly the US. Since in historic times this
pattern began with the Mercantilist laws known as
the Navigation Acts. The only goods that could
have been imported into the colonies had to come
from Britain or from a port controlled by a captain
on the ship using a British crew.

5. The colonies could have engaged in manufacturing
however this was only because they were a source
of raw materials for the industrial revolution in
Britain and as a market for British manufactured
goods.
Independence did not significantly alter these
patterns as few Caribbean countries began
manufacturing from scratch since they did not
have all the necessary resources. As well under
colonialism the productive lands went into cash
crop production to export with little emphasis on
food production, consequently the food import
bills for these ex-colonies were high.

7. However when the new Caribbean governments were
introduced during the 1970s and the 1980s certain items
were placed on a quota system whereby only a certain
amount could have been imported with a special license.
Others were placed on a negative list this meant that it could
not have been imported at all. This however contributed to
the formation of black markets where restricted items were
sold illegally. These measures were designed to encourage
local manufacturing, campaigns were also used as buy local.
High tariffs were imposed on textile imports, but because of
the lack of experience the local goods were relatively
expensive and badly made. The customer therefore came to
associate the local goods with cheap and shoddy and
therefore developed the tradition of shopping abroad.

9. The CARICOM single market economy is another strategy
designed to nurture and facilitate growth in local
industries and trade. Overtime though many Caribbean
manufacturing firms have gone out of business as trade
liberalization policies have increasingly opened the region
to cheap foreign goods and services.

11. Influence of extra-regional countries on the
caribbean: consumption patterns.
Europe and more recently the US, have profoundly influenced
consumption patterns in the Caribbean. Although there has
been strategies to reduce dependency and the amount
imported a large percentage of the population continue to
regard western products as the ruling class. This can be
analyzed in the following ways:

12. The value in assessing what is foreign- music, food, clothing
,technology are seen as better than local alternatives and is
believed to have more legitimacy.

14. The importance of associating products with being modern.
This value encourages us to keep up with the latest innovations,
fashions, movies, music, technology etc. People see the west as
a pacesetter therefore they have no choice but to buy these
products.

16. Building social capital. Brand names and designer labels are
popular among youth as it confers on them the approval and
envy of their peers. Those who do not follow these ways
receive ridicule and derision.

18. The universal feeling that the US is a must see
destination or even an only see one. Many
Caribbean people visit the US over and over again
and feel no interest to visit other countries, it gives
the feeling of being at the centre of the world. It is
even said to have a US visa is a prestigious status
symbol.