Status Symbols vs. Real Wealth: What Latest Research Reveals About Middle-Class Spending
A new wave of research and social commentary has spotlighted a striking gap in how the middle class and the genuinely wealthy approach spending — and why this distinction matters in societies like Thailand, where economic mobility and social status carry deep cultural weight. The phenomenon is simple but telling: middle-class consumers often purchase big-ticket items in an attempt to appear rich, items that truly wealthy individuals typically ignore in favour of discretion and long-term financial health. This trend was recently detailed in the article, “5 things the middle class buy to seem rich (that wealthy people couldn’t care less about),” published by VegOut Magazine on August 7, 2025, adding to a cross-cultural conversation about wealth, status, and financial behaviour (vegoutmag.com).