Our economy rests on the bedrock of consumption: people use things that others have made. This program looks at the many social and psychological factors involved in the effort to sell things that people can be induced to buy without necessarily needing them. It covers fashion—a complex industry that reaches beyond the need for clothing to reflect the psychological needs of consumers; explains what the television industry does to measure and profile the consumerist character of its audiences; and shows the evolution in the auto industry as it seeks to balance environmental requirements with the wants of consumers. (23 minutes)