Middle class still clinging on to lifestyle: Sociologist

JAKARTA (JP): The crisis, it seems, has not yet had a telling effect on middle class lifestyles. Social habits develop gradually and do not change abruptly. The severity of the crisis will only truly be felt by the middle classes when they can no longer maintain themselves in the manner to which they have become accustomed.

These were some thoughts shared by sociologist Paulus Wirutomo from the University of Indonesia. More excerpts from the interview:

Question: Have you seen any changes in urban lifestyles since the crisis began?

Answer: Yes, there's mainly been a change in the intensity of consumption, but I think that overall, lifestyles have not shown any significant changes. In certain cases, changes have yet to take place.

Q: How has the crisis affected consumption among the middle classes?

A: That's something unusual. Apparently the middle classes could not adjust to the new situation, so their lifestyles have remained largely unchanged.

Look at cafe-goers for example. There are still many people who frequent cafes, even though the number of visits they make has dropped. Before the crisis such people might have spent almost every night in cafes, but now they only go occasionally.

Regarding the consumption of food and drink, I see no change at all. Most people can still afford what they want.

Purchases of luxury goods, however, have dropped drastically. People have to think twice before buying a new car or consumer durable goods.

Young executives habitually spend their time at certain entertainment centers. They still flock to the cinema, even though it would be cheaper to watch films in their own homes together with their families.

That's a lifestyle issue. They seek to interact with others and enjoy being surrounded by, and meeting with other people. It's impossible to change this habit overnight.

Q: So their lifestyle has developed around a desire to socialize?

A: Yes. People need to interact with other people, and many from among the ranks of the middle classes do not seem to have grasped the gravity of the crisis, despite almost a year of these abnormal conditions. I think that must mean the middle classes still have sufficient savings to support their old lifestyles.

If the crisis deepens over the next few months, they too will succumb to its unavoidable presence and their sense of crisis will be heightened.

Q: How does such a sense of crisis develop?

A: It depends on an individuals economic resilience. Low income brackets are always the hardest hit. They totally changed their lifestyles immediately after losing their jobs. Some received a small amount of severance pay, while others did not. The only option for many is to return to their home towns and grow their own food.

Q: What is likely to happen if the middle classes begin to sense the magnitude of the crisis?

A: A sense of crisis is different from objective resilience. People can lose their resilience without developing a sense of crisis. The sense of crisis is a matter of conscience.

If people can still have fun in pubs, they have no sense of crisis. But if the crisis worsens and their financial means suffer accordingly, people will begin to feel that the situation is deteriorating. They will notice the rising number of unemployed and become aware that people are no longer making money.

For the time being, people are still visiting cafes, with the only concession being that they spend less on drinks. Their continued presence shows other people that their situation is still all right.

Q: What happens when people develop a sense of crisis?

A: If middle class people were to lose their jobs they would certainly alter consumption patterns.

However, traders respond to this by changing their marketing techniques. They do not want to lose customers and so reduce the cost of the services they provide.

After months of adjusting to rising prices, traders are seeking ways to reduce the cost of their wares. Some do so by reducing unnecessary packaging and waste without altering the quality of the product on sale.

Many businesses advertise products in ways designed to retain their old customers, and even attract new ones, despite the ongoing crisis. They do so by encouraging customers to defend the lifestyles they have become used to.

If their customers' lifestyles change, the traders would be finished.

Q: How long can they tolerate this state of affairs?

A: That depends on our economic situation. It's too difficult to say for the time being because conditions are still volatile and the price of basic food commodities remains unstable.

Q: Can pressure on lifestyles encourage the middle classes to push for political change?

A: Yes. Many believe the crisis was caused by incompetent government economic policies. The middle classes have been moved to protest, following the lead taken by the student community.

Students, who are largely middle class, are among those hardest hit by the crisis. Although like everybody else they have been hit by price increases, they are most angered by their now bleak future prospects.

They believe the government has destroyed their chances of a bright and enjoyable future.