But isn&#x27;t artifical demand generation exactly the problem? We already have growing problems with overconsumption, yet we&#x27;re still told to keep buying more? The only thing your numbers show is that marketing is great at selling its own services, which should not be surprising.<p>Then (for me at least) there&#x27;s the problem that almost all TV advertising is targeted at the more vulnerable groups in society: they invariably equate spending with a superficial emotional quality. I can&#x27;t even remember the last time I&#x27;ve seen an ad that contained factual information.<p>And since consumer money can only be spent once, it&#x27;s a zero sum game to me. I&#x27;d rather have people spending money on things they really need, instead of trying to fill an emotional hole created by advertising.