Deploying diverse approaches to an integrated study of thrift

With the recent Global Financial Crisis and enduring concerns around social and environmental sustainability, older ideas of thrift have gained new traction in public discussions, ushering in a new and diverse body of literature. This paper surveys existing writing on thrift across popular and academic domains, discussing ways in which these diverse perspectives can be systematized according to key approaches. Our argument is that, to date, narratives of thrift have followed two main divergent tendencies: one views thrift from the top-down, focusing on models, patterns and ideological trajectories of thriftiness; the other studies it from the bottom-up, privileging context-based, fine-grained analysis of specific, differentiated experiences and manifestations of thriftiness. While both strands offer valuable contributions, we propose an approach that involves actively integrating the macro and micro strands as well as work focusing on different aspects, or spheres, of thrift practice. We suggest that thrift-related conversations in the domain of popular knowledge production and practice, including online, are included in studies of thrift.