IELTS Writing Task 2: Malls and Leisure Time
Shopping is now one of the most popular forms of leisure activities in many countries for young adults.
Why is this?
Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?
Shopping has become more common as a result of the introduction of large shopping malls. I strongly believe this has brought considerable economic benefits to society at large.
Since the advent of the mall, companies have relentlessly sought new ways to attract consumers, resulting in today’s megamalls. In the past, shoppers would make dedicated trips to specific stores for products. In the 1980s in the United States, the novel combination of shopping plazas and department stores with entertainment venues like state-of-the-art cinemas and appetizing foods courts made them the centre of social activity for a generation. It is therefore no wonder that youths and adults alike the world over opt to spend their time and money shopping at malls that cater to all their needs.
While some might argue that shopping is largely a waste of time, I feel that its economic advantages outweigh other concerns. Masses of wealthy middle-class consumers contribute greatly to economic prosperity and that brings various benefits to all socioeconomic classes. A counter-point illustrating this would be in Japan in the last two decades where a long recession has decimated the middle-class, leading to decreased shopping, closures of malls and a stagnant economy. The government has desperately lowered interest rates in order to stimulate the type of spending that malls encourage. Malls, as one crucial part of a consumer society, serve to encourage spending and national prosperity.
In conclusion, an increasing number of people frequent malls for their convenience and this boosts the economy. If governments were to invest more money in tax cuts this would further encourage spending at malls and help developing nations and developed ones whose growth has plateaued.
VOCABULARY
- as a result the outcome is
- introduction of since they started
- considerable economic benefits good for the economy
- society at large all of society, all citizens
- advent beginning of
- relentlessly sought looking hard for
- attract consumers bring in shoppers
- resulting in the result/effect is
- megamalls really big malls/shopping centres
- make dedicated trips going there just for
- novel combination new mix
- plazas publick places
- department stores malls
- entertainment venues cinemas, arcades, etc.
- state-of-the-art cinemas new movie theatres
- appetizing foods courts enticing restaurants in a mall
- centre of social activity social hub
- for a generation for all people born around the same time
- no wonder little surprise
- alike the same
- the world over everywhere in the world
- cater to all their needs can do whatever they want there
- largely a waste of time mostly not a good use of time
- economic advantages outweigh other concerns benefits to the economy more important than
- masses large groups of people
- wealthy middle-class consumers people with some money, not too rich or poor
- economic prosperity good for the economy
- socioeconomic classes rich and poor people
- a counter-point illustrating this would be in an example of the opposite case is
- long recession lengthy economic downturn
- decimated hurt a lot
- closures of malls malls closing down
- stagnant economy economy not growing
- desperately lowered interest rates hurriedly cut the rate for borrowing money
- stimulate encourage
- crucial part key element
- consumer society people shopping
- encourage spending stimulate buying
- national prosperity a country making money, doing well
- frequent go to a lot (verb)
- boosts increases
- tax cuts reducing the money you have to pay in taxes
- growth has plateaued stable, not increasing or decreasing
