Suchergebnisse

THE INFORMATIONAL AN SELECTIVE MERCHANDISING POLICIES OF THE COOPS DIRECTED TOWARD CONSUMER PROTECTION HAVE BENEFITTED PRIMARILY THEIR OWN MEMBERSHIP, BUT THE POLITICAL EFFORTS HAVE BENEFITTED ALL CONSUMERS. LIMITATIONS OF RESOURCES. HAVE KEPT CO-OPS FROM DOING MORE IN THIS AREA. CO-OPS ARE NOT TROUBLED TO THE SAME DEGREE AS COMMERCIAL SUPERMARKETS ABOUT OFFENDING WHOLESALERS AND MANUFACTURERS. MANY COMMERCIAL MARKETS ARE OWNED BY THE SAME MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS THAT SUPPLY THE PRODUCTS THEY SELL. THUS ANY EFFORT TO REGULATE SUPPLIERS AUTOMATICALLY POSES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR THE COMMERCIAL MARKETS. WHILE SOME OF THE PROTECTION POLICIES USED BY CO-OPS ARE ALSO FOUND IN A FEW COMMERCIAL MARKETS SOME OF THE TIME, THEIR USE IS MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE IN THE CO-OPS STORE THE LARGE CO-OP STORES, IN PARTICULAR, WHICH CANNOT DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES IN PRICE OR PRODUCT LINE FROM COMMERCIAL MARKETS, MUST USE CONSUMER EDUCATION TO GENERATE AND RETAIN CUSTOMER LOYALTY. WITHOUT EDUCATIONAL AND PROTECTIVE CAMPAIGNS, CUSTOMERS WOULD VOTE WITH THEIR FEET AND PATRONIZE COMMERCIAL MARKETS.

Topics include the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS agreement) Measures; product safety; regulation; and other issues; four articles.

TWO ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO CONSUMER PROTECTION--CONSUMER EDUCATION AND INFORATION--ARE BEING INCREASINGLY FOCUSED ON, ON THE GROUNDS THAT THESE APPROACHES ENHANCE THE CONSUMERS' ABILITIES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. THIS PAPER ANALYZES AND DISCUSSES RESEARCH EVIDENCE PRODUCED SINCE 1970 THAT BEARS ON THESE QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTS WHAT MIGHT BE AN APPROPRIATE BALANCE BETWEEN CONSUMER PROTECTION, EDUCATION, AND INFORMATION.