Luxury and the Logic of Sacrifice: Economic Expenditure in the Management of Surplus

This paper interrogates the intertwined trajectories of ritual sacrifice and economic expenditure in the luxury market through Georges Bataille’s theoretical lens. Focusing on the largely concealed practice of overstock destruction, the study reveals how this unofficial yet pivotal business strategy operates as a form of sacrificial expenditure. The deliberate elimination of surplus inventory serves as a modern analog to sacrificial acts, underscoring how the boundaries between the sacred and the secular blur in contemporary economic practices. By critically analyzing the structural logic behind overstock destruction and its role in sustaining market dynamics, the paper challenges prevailing secular narratives and critiques the mechanisms of value production of late Capitalism. Employing insights from recent work on Economic Theology and a comparative textual methodology, this research contributes to the ongoing dialogue of Religion & Economy, offering a fresh perspective on the interplay between ritual, sacrifice, and capitalist economy.