As luxury (wealth) increases people can increase radius of externalities that th

As luxury (wealth) increases people can increase radius of externalities that they consider. This is why nations do not worry about pollution until they have to, and once they have to they turn it into a virtue. In the west we are so deep in luxury our primary trade is in virtue signals – the most egregious demonstration of conspicuous consumption. Conspicuous altruism is conspicuous consumption – usually wherever other pay the cost of their altruism.