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Diverse approaches to consumer protection philosophy

Unterschiedliche Theorien zum Verbraucherschutz

  • Special Issue: The Legal Philosophy Of Consumer Protection
  • Published:
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Abstract

The paper distinguishes different approaches to consumer protection theory, namely pre-interventionist, interventionist, and post-interventionist. Developed market economies are undergoing a mixed rationality of consumer protection based upon a certain level of “acquis consummateur,” especially with respect to information type remedies in consumer transactions. On the other hand, self-regulation as well as regulations based on a need concept have failed to be successful alternatives. Finally, the author discusses the consequences of an emerging body of autonomous consumer law for commercial transactions, representation of collective consumer interests, and environmental protection.

Zusammenfassung

Der Beitrag unterscheidet drei unterschiedliche Theoriemodelle und Phasen von Verbraucherschutz: vor-interventionistisch, interventionistisch, und nach-interventionistisch. Entwickelte Marktwirtschaften zeichnen sich heute durch eine gemischte Rationalität aus, die ein bestimmtes Schutzniveau als gegeben hinnimmt, insbesondere im Bereich von informationsbezogenen Rechtsbehelfen. Auf der anderen Seite konnten sich andere Theoriemodelle, seien es solche einer Selbstregelung oder umgekehrt einer Bedürfnisorientierung, nicht durchsetzen. Der Beitrag diskutiert dann die Auswirkungen dieser Verbraucherschutztheorie auf das Handelsrecht, auf die Vertretung kollektiver Verbraucher-interessen, und auf deren Umweltverträglichkeit.

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Authors
  1. Norbert Reich
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Additional information

Norbert Reich is Professor of Civil, Commercial, and EC Law at the University of Bremen, Universitätsallee, D-2800 Bremen 33, Germany, and at the time of writing Allen, Allen, & Hemsley Visiting Fellow at the University of Sydney Law School.

The paper was originally presented to the Fourth Biannual Meeting of the International Academy of Commercial and Consumer Law, Melbourne, 23 to 26 August 1988. Upon suggestion of the Guest Editor, it was updated and amended without changing the basic argument.

The author wishes to express his thanks to his colleagues Hans Micklitz, Lesley Jane Smith, and Gerlinde Thomann, Centre for European Legal Policy, for help in elaborating and editing earlier drafts of the paper. David Harland, University of Sydney, gave valuable suggestions in revising the paper. As usual, the responsibility for the paper rests exclusively with the author.

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Reich, N. Diverse approaches to consumer protection philosophy. J Consum Policy 14, 257–292 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380900

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