the particular taste of the upper classes has been further analyzed by an economist thorsten veblen (1857–1929). he argues that distancing oneself from hardships of productive labour has always been the conclusive sign of high social status. hence, upper-class taste is not defined by things regarded as necessary or useful but by those that are the opposite. to demonstrate non-productivity, members of the so-called leisure class waste conspicuously both time and goods. the lower social stratum try their best to imitate the non-productive lifestyle of the upper classes, even though they do not really have means for catching up.