Forecasting the Future of Consumer Programs in Higher Education

Data from a recent survey of department chairpersons are used to identify factors that influence forecasts of departments' futures. The analyses indicate that consumer and family economics departments predict a rather bright future despite the fact that many have experienced recent enrollment declines and budget reductions. Multivariate analysis suggests that departments with increasing enrollments, increasing budgets, and strong political support are the most likely to forecast a bright future. Somewhat surprising were the findings that current enrollment, number of faculty, and presence of a graduate program did not influence chairpersons' forecasts.     

Consumer Risk Preferences and Higher Education Enrollment Decisions

Although there are widespread concerns that consumers are making poor choices regarding higher education, the fact that human capital investments are risky is often overlooked in the national conversation. Therefore, this research investigates the effect of risk preferences on higher education enrollment decisions. A sample from the 1997 cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY97 ) was analyzed, and the results indicate that consumer risk preferences have a significant effect on the likelihood of enrollment. Specifically, there was a robust, positive relationship between risk tolerance and the likelihood of enrollment even after controlling for time preferences and risk perceptions. Consistent with previous findings, ability, parental education, family net worth and income, and being female were positively associated with the likelihood of enrollment. The results suggest that risk preferences may be an important source of omitted variable bias in previous studies of higher education investment choices.     

Economics of Consumer Protection: Contributions and Challenges in Estimating Consumer Injury and Evaluating Consumer Protection Policy

Journal of Consumer Policy - The author examines the role of economics in consumer protection, drawing from her experience at the U. S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has a dual mandate to...     

Consumer Protection Law in Cuba

Journal of Consumer Policy - The authors address the origins and evolution of consumer law in Cuba and the influence of European Union consumer law on development in Cuba. The transition from the...     

从国际消费维权角度分析中国消费维权

中国消费者维权是国际消费者维权的一部分,中国消费者维权应该借鉴国际消费者维权的经验。在消费者处于弱势地位的时候,消费维权应该在完善消费者权益保护制度入手来进行,从而使得我国消费者权益保护和国际接轨。     

Information-Based Principles for Rethinking Consumer Protection Policy

In this paper we review the changes in economic theory that have taken place since current consumer protection regimes were first developed in the 1960s and 70s. We draw from this evolution in economic theory the basic principle that information, and the complex ways in which information works both in the marketplace and in regulatory regimes, should form the core of a set of principles for rethinking consumer protection policy. We go on to propose a number of such information-based principles as a guide for the redesign of consumer protection policy to deal with an increasingly global and complex consumer marketplace.     

Developments in Consumer Protection in India

This paper surveys the major developments in the field of consumer protection in India since 1984, when the statutory provisions for regulating unfair trade practices were incorporated for the first time.Among the developments described in the paper is the strengthening of provisions for consumer protection through amendments to the Act regulating restrictive and monopolistic trade practices (the MTRP Act). Public-sector undertakings and co-operative societies have been brought within the purview of the Act, and consumers have obtained the right to participate in inquiry proceedings before the MRTP Commission.Consumers and their associations have been given the right to seek redress of grievances arising out of the violation of certain pieces of legislation, including the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, was enacted in order to provide speedy and inexpensive redress of consumers' grievances. Redress can now be sought before any consumer court also for negligence or deficiency in medical services.The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986, has strengthened the measures for the standardisation and quality control of manufactured goods.A Consumer Welfare Fund has been set up to provide financial assistance to voluntary consumer organisations and for the general development of consumer movement in the country. A spurt in voluntary consumer organisations in different parts of the country can also be observed.Other developments include the establishment of a separate Department of Consumer Affairs in the Union Government and the setting up of a Consumer Product Testing Laboratory.     

电子商务中的消费者权益保护

电子商务作为一种新型的市场交易方式,在带给人们便捷、丰富的消费商品和服务信息的同时,也增加了消费者遭受损害的机会,极大地侵害了消费者的合法权益。本文旨在分析当前电子商务交易中存在的几种侵害消费者权益的现象,提出保护消费者权益的几点意见。     

电子商务中消费者保护问题的研究

随着计算机与互联网技术的广泛应用,电子商务如雨后春笋一般发展。由于这一新型商业运营模式具有虚拟性、远程性以及技术性强等特点,在为消费者带来方便快捷服务的同时,也为消费者带来了更多的风险和不确定性以及维权困难等问题。在电子商务交易过程中加强对消费者权益保护,必须从交易达成前、交易过程中、争议处理过程中三个方面入手,既要保障消费者的知情权,也要保护消费者隐私权,更要合理制定格式条款。同时,要选择适当的履约方式。只有这样,才能增强消费者对电子商务的信心,才能使电子商务得以长足发展。     

Assessing the Validity of Consumer Ratings for Higher Education: Evidence from a New Survey

This analysis assesses the validity of using consumer surveys to measure the quality of colleges using new survey data from the Strada‐Gallup Education Consumer Survey. I develop an individual consumer rating based on responses to 14 items related to the quality of education and implement two validity tests: Do higher ratings predict higher welfare, and do they correspond to objective quality measures? I conclude that they do. Indeed, the mean ratings of at least 20 other alumni provide a better prediction of individual satisfaction than popular college rankings from media sources. Consumers rate their experiences higher after attending not‐for‐profit colleges that generate better economic opportunities, enroll students with higher test scores, employ well‐paid faculty, and graduate a higher percentage of students who eventually earn doctorates. I conclude that survey‐based consumer ratings of postsecondary institutions can provide valid and reliable quality comparisons.     

An Assessment of Consumer Protection and Consumer Empowerment in Costa Rica

The present exploratory study aims to describe and assess Costa Rica’s regime for protecting and empowering consumers. As the general framework, this study used research conducted in the USA, in Europe—specifically studies conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) partners—and studies sponsored by the European Union (EU) in Central America. This paper, however, is not intended to provide an exhaustive analysis or to answer all questions and issues related to consumer protection in Costa Rica; rather, it is to identify the main components of the consumer protection framework, its strategies, consumer redress mechanisms, remedies, and consumer protection challenges faced by the country. The last section outlines a conclusion and presents recommendations for improvement.     

政府规制与消费者保护

政府规制是保护消费者利益的根本方式。本文主要通过制度分析来探讨我国消费者保护运动中政府规制的绩效及其影响,从改善政府规制规制绩效的制度建设角度提出改进措施,以期促进消费者保护与消费和谐的实现。     

论新形势下的消费者教育

消费者教育,在市场经济条件下,以其在保护消费者权益方面的重要作用,为国际组织和世界各国消费者组织所重视。在我国,消费者教育已经有了一定基础,但发展还不平衡,声势、规模也不够大,今天,在全面建设小康社会的新形势下,要进一步推动这项工作,使之有一个全新的面貌和发展态势,还有若干问题需要加以探讨和澄清,为实践开辟道路并指导实践。本文拟从五个方面谈点粗浅看法和体会。一、“消费教育”还是“消费者教育”目前,人们习惯用的是“消费教育”的提法。究其渊源,始于中国消费者协会于1991年下发的“关于广泛开展消费教育的意见”。当时的…     

论反垄断法中的消费者福利保护——以知识经济为背景

消费者福利一直是反垄断法保护的对象。在知识经济时代,反垄断法受到了前所未有的挑战,将保护消费者福利明确定位为反垄断法的终极目的与核心价值,有针对性的制定微观制度与政策,是传统反垄断法因应知识经济时代的必然选择。     

消费者增权理论与我国消费者权益保护法的完善

消费者增权理论是近年来西方社会科学领域关注的热点问题之一,在消费者增权理论中,信息供给型增权和制度供给型增权是两种主要模式。我国现阶段的消费模式和消费者权益保护实践表明,制度供给型消费者增权可以更好地保护消费者利益。所以,从消费者增权理论出发,完善消费者权益保护法律体系,是增进消费者利益保护和实现消费和谐的重要举措。