Consumerism and Environment
OBJECTIVES :
1. Explore their understanding on the different definitions of consumerism..
2. Share their own experiences openly on different consumers’ rights.
3. Write a personal reflection consumer’s rights.
Definitions of consumerism:
A modern movement for the protection of the consumer against useless, inferior or
dangerous products, misleading advertising, unfair pricing etc.
A movement in United States that seeks to protect consumers against shoddy or
improperly labeled products.
A belief that personal wellbeing and happiness depends to a very large extent on the
level of personal consumption particularly on the purchase of material goods.
A theory that a country consume goods and services in large quantities will be better off
economically.
An organized effort by individuals, groups, and government to help protect consumers
from policies and practices infringe consumer rights to fair business practices,
Consumerism explains what commercialism is and how it interacts with capitalism.
Consumerism is a movement seeking to protect and inform consumers by requiring
such practices as honest packaging and advertising, product guarantees, and improved safety
standards.
The theory that a progressively greater consumption of goods is economically
beneficial
Consumerism could be defined as follows; protection of consumer’s rights,
materialistic attitude, belief in benefits of consumption
Consumerism is the equation of personal happiness with consumption and the purchase
of material possessions.
In economics, consumerism refers to economic policies placing emphasis on
consumption. In abstract sense, it is the belief that the free choice of consumers should dictate
the economic structure of a society.
Examples
1. Price protection agencies or consumer rights agencies, where you can complain
about unfair trade practices.
2. Shopping Freaks or having the latest and most expensive gadgets
3. Consumption=demand. Demand being high creates production or competitions which
can lower price due to supply availability, hence, advantageous to consumer.
Consumer’s rights:
1. The right to safety— protection against goods that are dangerous to life and health.
2. The right to be informed — to protect against fraud and to make rational choices.
3. The right to choose — the need for markets to be competitive and for protection by
the government in those markets where competition no longer exist.
4. The right to be heard — the right to have consumer interest heard in the making of
government business policy.
5. The right to compensation against damage— to obtain just compensation for
misrepresentation of goods and services.
6. The right to a clean environment — the right to freedom, and clean environment that
will allow one to live a life of dignity and well being.
7. The right to consumer education — to enable one to become an informed consumer
throughout life.
