... a large gap between the working and middle classes that had shown no signs of converging, in fact there was more evidence to support the divergence of the two classes with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Within pre-industrial society "incomes of the poor are static and the superior living standards of the rich are not being challenged from below." (Crosland, 1956, 213) The 'age of affluence' came about with the increase of average incomes due to industrialisation, developments in technology and mass production. With the masses now having greater levels of income their basic needs were consequently satisfied, spending rose on items other than food, housing and fuel, i.e. necessities, and they then began to start to purchase what had previously been perceived as luxury goods. The name given to this trend of increasing consumption of consumer or prestige goods was 'socialisation'. These changes however were ...

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