22 The Impact of New Technology on Leisure Networks

Networks are often considered when embedded in systems of production or consumption, but they are also of considerable value in themselves, as they underpin social interaction and social leisure activities. The nature of leisure has changed considerably over time, sometimes due to the costs of leisure goods, sometimes due to the changing opportunities that individuals are afforded for leisure in their working routines. The rapid changes in technology have impacted both on the cost of leisure and also on the work routine that people must fit leisure around. This paper considers the economic importance of leisure networks, as well as their more direct impacts on individual welfare