I do frequently find myself in that “they don’t make them...” frame of mind. I also believe that part of the answer is located on that planned obsolescence axis but also realize that is a complicated issue to fully establish if you’re not part of the decision-making structure for the particular item.
I have also heard of some other views that suggest the less durable nature of many modern products may be influenced a bit by the rate of innovations across a wide range of margins (direct inputs, new functionality/options, build materials, digital versus analogue process management function...).
This might be a testable proposition—if true one would think that in areas where little innovation has existed—or the significant impact from innovation has been achieved—competition will push the product towards durability as a positive quality sought by consumers. In the areas where product innovation is just really getting opened up one should see, all things equal, a declining level of durability.
I would think one could also model durability against innovative forces with some degree of accuracy.
I do frequently find myself in that “they don’t make them...” frame of mind. I also believe that part of the answer is located on that planned obsolescence axis but also realize that is a complicated issue to fully establish if you’re not part of the decision-making structure for the particular item.
I have also heard of some other views that suggest the less durable nature of many modern products may be influenced a bit by the rate of innovations across a wide range of margins (direct inputs, new functionality/options, build materials, digital versus analogue process management function...).
This might be a testable proposition—if true one would think that in areas where little innovation has existed—or the significant impact from innovation has been achieved—competition will push the product towards durability as a positive quality sought by consumers. In the areas where product innovation is just really getting opened up one should see, all things equal, a declining level of durability.
I would think one could also model durability against innovative forces with some degree of accuracy.
Hasn’t anyone already done this?