Q."Advertising is a social waste." Examine this statement by discussing the main criticisms of advertising and the answers to them.

Advertising is attacked on several grounds, but most objections are really against its misuse rather than against advertising itself.

The statement that "advertising is a social waste" reflects a set of well-known criticisms, each of which can be answered.

• It raises the cost of goods. Advertising is expensive and its cost is said to fall on the buyer. Answer: by creating mass demand it makes large-scale production possible, lowering cost per unit, which can more than offset the advertising cost.
• It is often misleading or untrue. Some advertisements exaggerate or make false claims. Answer: this is an abuse, not a fault of advertising itself, and it is checked by law, codes of conduct and self-regulation.
• It creates artificial wants and encourages wasteful spending. Answer: advertising can only inform and persuade; the final choice rests with the buyer, and many "created" wants are genuine improvements in living.
• It leads to monopoly and harms small firms. Answer: advertising also lets new and small firms make themselves known and challenge established brands.
• It multiplies needless brands. Answer: it also gives buyers information and a wider choice.
• It undermines social values and good taste. Answer: again an abuse, to be curbed by regulation and public opinion.
• It is economic waste when rival firms merely fight over a fixed market. Answer: honest advertising often expands the total market rather than merely dividing it. …

Do not answer one-sidedly. The question asks you to examine the statement, so give both the criticisms and the replies, and end with a balanced conclusion. Simply l …