Prologue
Bubblegum
manufacturers included comics/riddles wrapped in their product as an inducement
to purchase. This was followed by the introduction of “cards” of famous sports
players that encouraged individuals to collect select players or cards
representing teams. Eventually, the cards became more important than the gum
and individuals would have stacks of unused gum as they sought select cards.
Finally the manufacturers of gum and others saw the interest rise to the point
where there was a market for packets of cards without the gum. And the tertiary
market for the cards expanded.
Prior
to WWII, a college education/degree had selective market. After the War, the
purpose of college was amended without serious discussion and college became
more important. Additionally, the expansion of courses or areas for
specialization gained attention. This challenged students to seek specific
courses that had differential value in the world of work outside of the
college. Over time certain collections acquired cachet, such as Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, STEM. Other elements added value,
including who issued the validation
