I Blame Thorstein Veblen

     In over simplified terms, in just one (although his most famous) work, Veblen talked about "conspicuous consumption" which was a form of "keeping up with the Joneses" and a method for the elites to surpass each other, namely by outdoing each other in their waste/utilization of goods.

     But, in the business world, the opposite is true, and at business meetings the goal is to conspicuously not consume. 

     I don't know if Veblen discusses this or not, but if he didn't, he only gets half credit and might be seen as a tool of corporate interests (who, being only half-good at business themselves, would just as soon no one else knew the rules).

     Ciao for now, brown cow.