International Consumer Protection
Most states use the law to protect consumers from firms, but how do they do it, and on what basis do they decide to intervene? International Consumer Protection provides an in depth and thought-provoking examination of how and why law is used to protect the consumer.
The module looks at the different interests that consumer law might seek to protect, such as consumer safety and consumers’ economic interests, and considers how different types of law can be used to provide that protection. For example, suppose a regulator finds that a new type of product on the market is potentially hazardous – should the law insist that:
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that product type be licensed?
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that it is subject to minimum mandatory standards?
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that it can only be supplied with warnings attached?
How do we enforce product safety law:
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by prosecuting the manufacturer?
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insisting that the product be recalled?
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simply by giving the injured consumer the opportunity to sue?
Furthermore, how do we decide which types of law should be used in which circumstances?
By examining questions of this type, the module aims to provide an interesting insight into difficult questions of policy, principle and practice.