Ethics and the consumer coursework

Résumé du document

In a world where globalization seems to be everywhere, some notions such as ethics, consumer policy, involving government and others organizations emerge. The ultimate aim of this is the well-being of people, more precisely, consumers.

The term "ethics" is used to define a system of moral principles and the process in which we know how to behave, to act, to react in society and with other people.
It defines also what is right and wrong to do in a specific situation where people share the same norms and values.

But it's basically more complicated to identify the impact of ethics in our current marketplace.
Moreover, consumer policy has been taken into account; it's the way for consumer to be informed about what they buy, prevent sellers to sell anything at any prices in bad conditions and so on.

Adam Smith, who was one of the first to affirm that people are selfish, tried to understand how people could have moral feelings, moral actions, reactions and judgement with others and forget a moment their nature and human self-interest.

On the first hand, we will define ethics and consumer policy in the context of the contemporary service sector to get a clear understanding of these concepts. Then, we will analyze the roles and effects of ethics in the modern society. Finally, we will identify and explain the roles and consequences of national and European governments.

Extraits

[...] Moreover, consumer policy has to been taken into account; it's the way for consumer to be informed about what they buy, prevent sellers to sell anything at anything prices in bad conditions and so on Adam Smith, who was one of the first to affirm that people are selfish; he tried to understand how people could then have moral feelings, moral actions, reactions and judgement with others and forget a moment their natural but human self-interest. On a first hand, we will define ethics and consumer policy in the context of the contemporary service sector to try to have a clear understanding of these concepts. Then, we will analyse the roles and effects of ethics on our modern society. Finally, we will identify and try to explain the roles and consequences of national and European governments. [...]

[...] There are laws to protect consumers such that each consumer can send a company to court if he feels abused in the consumption process. But it depends mainly of the country you are in, culture has a high impact on ethical people principles so companies has to be aware of that, from the context, and have to adapt their product or their way of selling. Globalization, although it's a global phenomenon, won't have as effect to uniform all the ways of thinking. [...]

[...] Evaluate the role of national and European governments in protecting consumers and providing consumer education. National and European governments have a main role in protecting consumers because they can influence every factors we noted before. About culture, national as well as European governments could take into place some advertisement or other in order to protect his customers. National or European government as a stakeholder of consumer process and as rampart against any abuse of multinational firms. But they are also in charge of protecting national companies from competitors sometimes, not only customer but all the system is under charge. [...]

[...] In this context regional organizations consumer have a role. People know they can count on it but it should also be noted that while this remains subject to controversy. Indeed, we know that at the time of increased international competition and globalization, governments and independent organizations may also be linked more or less directly with these large multinational firms and maybe they could influenced by it. All these organizations are necessary of course but everybody has to make and the keep his own judgement on products and companies without following others as a sheep. [...]

[...] There are several ways to reach that; European Union, as any national government can launch some survey of consumers first to evaluate their needs and expectations, and then take out it for legislative actions. We have to remind that every action from EU is closely linked and interdependent with national one. The commission in charge of consumer policy support consumer organizations and try to develop consumer representation at a member state level as much as possible. There are European networks linked with national government which is able to assist consumers about cross borders asking. [...]