To consume or not to consume?

Abstract: This thesis seeks to investigate the connection between consumption and anticipated subjective wellbeing using the framework of Human Scale Development developed by Max Neef and colleagues (1991). The work intends to contribute to a wider discussion concerning the effects of a retracting economy on subjective wellbeing. The material was gathered by using deliberative forums, a method that is due lacking within the field of policy studies, and analysed using thematic analysis. The analysis showed that a majority of the participants in the forums did not expect a lower level of subjective wellbeing would they to reduce consumption, supporting the hypothesis of adaptive preferences. The results were, however, somewhat ambiguous, as two out of ten forums were outliers and did not display adaptive preferences.