Mature Consumer Awareness and Attitudes Toward Retirement Housing and Long-Term Care Alternatives

The retirement housing and long-term care industries have been responding to the needs of aging consumers by developing a wide range of housing facilities and personal care services. The increasing variety of long-term care options is expected to better satisfy the heterogeneous needs of older consumers. Results of a national study and qualitative research suggest that many present and potential consumers of supportive housing and long-term care services do not have a good understanding of these offerings. Many are unaware of the alternatives available. Mature consumers often perceive all long-term care negatively as nursing homes. The proliferation in the variety of housing and long-term care services and the lack of standardization in labeling products may be contributing to the misunderstanding of various options. This misunderstanding leads to consumers not obtaining the housing and long-term care services best suited to their needs. Government agencies, consumer interest groups, and housing and long-term care providers can help to differentiate products and educate consumers to better serve their needs.     

State Used Motor Vehicle Disclosure Laws: Do They Make a Difference to the Consumer?

Because of recurring unfavorable consumer experiences, there have been a number of market and nonmarket responses to the quality uncertainty encountered in the used vehicle market. Several states have enacted used vehicle disclosure laws. This paper examines whether certain state used vehicle disclosure laws provide consumers with enough additional information so as to impact the quality mix of traded vehicles. The reported repair records of recently transacted vehicles in three states were examined: Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. Using Census data from the TIU Survey, pairwise tests of the equality of the mean maintenance expenditures of recently transacted vehicles from these three states were performed. Results were verified with a regression analysis. We were unable to find evidence that the currently mandated disclosure requirements in Wisconsin and Iowa were effective in increasing the number of good quality vehicles traded in the market. Our conclusions are drawn exclusive of any secondary benefits or costs that might accrue to the consumer and to society.     

A Socialization Perspective on Selected Consumer Characteristics of the Elderly

This study examines the effects of selected antecedent variables and communication processes on the consumer behavior of the elderly. The socialization perspective is suggested as a conceptual framework for the study of elderly consumer behavior, with specific theories used as bases for formulating hypotheses. The study results suggest that the mass media and the family may be instrumental in reinforcing or developing traditional sex-role stereotypes among the elderly, whereas consumer education may help them filter puffery in advertisements. Age, sex and health were also related to various aspects of consumer behavior.     

Informational Inputs as Influences on Efficient Consumer Decision-Making

The effects of consumer information and consumer sophistication on the ability of consumers to make purchases offering the greatest benefits were examined. It was found that consumer information enhances the likelihood that consumers will make efficient choices of products. Consumer sophistication was also found to be an intervening variable in consumers' use of information.     

Consumer Markets in a Colombian Town

The majority of the world's consumers live in rural areas in less developed nations, yet few studies have dealt with consumer markets in such regions. A case study of a town in Colombia provides some insights into the functioning of markets for nondurables, durables, medical care, and transportation. The market structures are diverse and reflect the characteristics of the population, the isolation of the town, the level of information and public policy. While not without problems, the markets function fairly well under present circumstances. That stores are numerous and small creates some inefficiencies but serves to minimize fraud due to a personal relationship between buyer and seller. Government intervention has proven helpful in the provision of medical service. Consumer education could help solve some problems. Prospects for a consumer movement are weak at present.     

Systems Perspective on Automobile and Appliance Warranty Problems

Warranties must protect consumers to serve manufacturers, but competition is deficient as a consumer protection. Consumers seeking aid through legislation and litigation have forced government to create new institutions, but consumers can play a still more effective role in holding both government and industry to standards of social accountability.     

SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM IN CHINA: THE CASE OF OLD-AGE INSURANCE

The social security system in the People's Republic of China is experiencing dramatic changes. This paper examines the characteristics of the pre-reform social security system in the People's Republic of China with respect to the old-age insurance, discusses and comments on the recent efforts towards old-age insurance reform, and proposes recommendations for the current reform, such as raising the official retirement ages, changing funding system, and investing pension funds to appreciate their values.