Consumerism and school uniforms

Consumer concerns about school uniforms are a recurring problem particularly in areas such as Northern Ireland characterized by low income and social deprivation. The General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland carried out a systematic in-depth investigation into the problem to assess current policy, practice and consumer concerns in the purchase of school uniforms. The research highlighted how school principals, who influence uniform policy, underestimate the cost of its provision and the significant relationship between the cost of uniforms and the type of school attended. Problems associated with the quality of uniforms emerge, as do parental and student concerns about the limited range of suppliers and support for ‘nearly new’ facilities in schools.     

IS THE MARKET FAILING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS WHO WISH TO MANAGE RISKS?

The variability of producers ‘net income levels is largely a function of variability in output price, yield, and input prices. Yet, the tools available to manage price risk and yield risk are not widely used by producers. Is the market failing to provide agricultural producers with effective risk management tools? To identify producers’ needs, the paper establishes the relative importance of price and yield risk by decomposing the variability of revenues from a sample of crops in California agriculture. The risk tools available to producers of those commodities are compared to producers needs for tools. Results indicate that “market failure” is readily apparent in markets for tools to manage risks. However, the nature of these missing or incomplete markets does not necessarily imply inefficiencies that would justify government intervention.