Societal norms and social media platforms are exacerbating the human tendency to compare successes with others, leaving people feeling threatened in their social status. High-status goods help people showcase their worth, and according to Dr. Dafna Goor, can boost self-esteem and wellbeing.

Mercedes-Benz India is betting on a new generation of luxury shoppers to drive car sales. While the peak of pandemic lockdowns saw a renaissance of 'stealth wealth', luxe shoppers in the new normal are engaging in conspicuous consumption and splashing cash to make up for lost time.

As budgets tighten, people are buying luxury branded packaging to give the illusion of wealth without spending a fortune. From that iconic Hermès orange to Tiffany’s duck-egg-blue boxes, aesthetically pleasing packaging has become a covetable must-have and entry-level marker of luxury.

Arrogance is often seen as a ‘negative’ behaviour – a sign that a person is self-centred and lacking empathy. But could boastfulness be a good thing in some situations? Dr.Ayalla Ruvio, an associate professor at Michigan State University, explains the value of bragging in a consumer context.