 This then scandalous line of thought caused great controversy with the publication of Bernard Mandeville's influential work "Fable of the Bees" in 1714, in which he argued that a country's prosperity ultimately lay in the self-interest of the consumer.These trends gathered momentum in the 18th century, as rising prosperity and social mobility increased the number of people with disposable income for consumption.Important shifts included the marketing of goods for individuals as opposed to items for the household, and the new status of goods as status symbols, related to changes in fashion and desired for aesthetic appeal, as opposed to just their utility.