The identification and analysis of the policies specified by government and organizations for the protection of consumer interests

Thèmes abordés

Identification - analysis - policies - government -organisation - protection - consumer - interests - role - ethics - consumer choice - business ethics - law

Résumé du document

The concept of ethics in the high consumption society is and will be always a source of debate. Every year, Medias reveal brand names which apply unethical practices. Everybody remembers the Nike scandal, world leader of the sport industry, in 1992, regarding child labor in China, Asia and Latin America. In 2007, it is the same official report for GAP and Adidas, clothing retailers, which exploit their workers (low pay, long hours or poor working environment). That is why the government has to regulate company behavior in order to protect the workforce along with the consumer.

How do governments and organizations protect the rights and interests of consumers? What is the role of ethics in consumer choices? To answer these questions, we are going to describe business ethics and consumer organizations. Then, we will study the role of ethics in organizational consumer policy and consumer choice. Finally, we will evaluate the position of government in consumer policy.

Extraits

[...] We can also talk about responsible or ethical consumerism. “Ethical consumerism is the intentional purchase of products and services that the customer considers to be made ethically” (The Ethical Consumer Research Association Why buy ethically). For example, a customer makes the deliberate choice to buy fair trade products like rise or coffee, recycling items or non-animal tested products. The promotion of fair trade products has become a major stake for the governments. Indeed, since 1994 with the “Resolution on promoting fairness and solidarity in North South trade”, European Union adopts more and more texts which incite firms to sell these items and consumers to buy them Which UK institutions defend consumer rights? [...]

[...] But, as the concept of ethics depends on moral code built by people, it is subjective. For example, some people are able to kill another in order to obtain things that they want. That is why, conscience and willpower of making right things don't affect people in like manner What is business ethics? There are different uses of ethics. Among the most known types, it concerns medical, legal, business and environmental issues, which are the fundamental principles of modern societies. In this study, we will talk about business issues and its influence on consumers' choice. [...]

[...] There are also European institutions which tend to develop fair trade and harmonization of consumer protection. For example, the effort by the European Commission to launch the “European Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility” (Gardener, 2006) shows that it wants to improve ethical issues in business. Finally, we can notice that there is a significant group conscience about being ethical in the 21st century: it's not just about making profits and gaining new market shares but treating the employees well and being honest face to the customers. [...]

[...] Role of ethics in organisational consumer policy and consumer choice 1. How consumer organisations regulate consumer choice? The rise of business ethics is linked with the post-war American way of life which dragged along social changes. American people became aware that the government can use illegal practices to manage its interests, such as the Watergate scandal. Journalists discovered a huge affair of political espionage which conducted to the demission of President Nixon. Since these revelations, the need to live in an ethical society with honest leaders grew up in the USA but also in Europe and in other parts of the world. [...]

[...] It establishes new protection for consumers and new regulation for actors which trade with consumer credit in order to limit abuses. The Act was replaced by the “Consumer Credit Act 2006”. III. Evaluation of the role of government in consumer policy 1. What is ethical consumerism? On the one hand, we have seen that ethics influences people by conscience and personal values, and on the other hand, that consumer policies regulate consumers' behaviour by ethical organisations and laws. So, through national campaign from governments, consumer organisations tend to learn values and moral principles to people. [...]