The new, subtle ways the rich signal their wealth

Luxury beliefs have, to a large extent, replaced luxury goods.

My claim is that luxury goods are gradually becoming a noisier signal of one's position in society. This isn't to say that they don't still confer status — they clearly do. People still buy material items to signal their status. But because they've become a noisier signal over time, people are starting to signal their status with their beliefs and ... See more

my roman empire is how & why people signal status:

1. Patricians

high wealth, low need for status

ex: Loro Piana

2. Parvenus

high wealth, high need

ex: Birkin lawsuit

3. Poseurs

low wealth, high need

ex: dupes, Stanleys

4. Proletarians

low wealth, low need

ex: Carhartt