Alternative Regulatory Cases Challenging Consumer Policy |
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Authors: | Petteri Repo Päivi Timonen Kim Zilliacus |
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Institution: | (1) National Consumer Research Centre, Kaikukatu 3, 00530 Helsinki, Finland;(2) Swedish School of Social Science, University of Helsinki, Snellmaninkatu 12, 00014 Helsinki, Finland |
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Abstract: | By means of the concept of postmodern politics, we provide insights into how alternative regulation is challenging consumer
policy. New actors, new forms of interaction, and new goals are emerging alongside established forms of consumer policy. In
particular, we examine two alternative regulatory cases: trust marks and consumer-generated information systems. They both
exemplify alternative regulation of electronic commerce, which has facilitated regulatory innovation for over a decade. On
the basis of our analysis, we suggest that governmental consumer policy cannot imitate the alternative regulatory solutions.
We also encourage governmental actors to consider building bridges to consumer networks. This would broaden the scope of consumer
policy and be in line with the modes of operation of governmental actors. Consumers are themselves contributing to this rethinking
of governmental consumer policy. By networking, consumers provide each other with empowering information on consumption. Doing
so on the massive scale enabled by information and communication technologies, they are challenging conventional consumer
policy, which can no longer address consumer needs as it could in the pre-Internet days. New issues are emerging for consumer
policy to address, and networked consumers are already contributing to policy. |
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