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Consumer Policy in 28 EU Member States: An Empirical Assessment in Four Dimensions

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  • S. Nessel

    (University of Graz)

Abstract

This article examines consumer policy in 28 EU Member States. It introduces a new methodological framework and several indicators to analyse legal, social, enforcement, and associational dimensions of consumer policy. Drawing on the most recent data, the empirical results provide a detailed picture of consumer policy across Europe displayed in several indices. The results furthermore allow for statistically testing consumer policy regimes, as suggested by previous research. These indices reveal great differences between individual countries but only few instances of statistically significant differences between consumer policy regimes. Considering legal and political accounts as well as sociological explanations that have not yet been applied, possible explanations for these findings are discussed. It is concluded that comparative consumer policy analysis should further analyse differences between individual European countries in several dimensions and should not only account for consumer policy regimes from a legal or a political science perspective. The methodological framework and the theoretical explanations outlined in this article may help to accomplish this goal.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Nessel, 2019. "Consumer Policy in 28 EU Member States: An Empirical Assessment in Four Dimensions," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 455-482, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jcopol:v:42:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s10603-019-09428-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10603-019-09428-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Cartwright, 2015. "Understanding and Protecting Vulnerable Financial Consumers," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 119-138, June.
    2. Oecd, 2015. "Industry Self Regulation: Role and Use in Supporting Consumer Interests," OECD Digital Economy Papers 247, OECD Publishing.
    3. Marija Bartl, 2010. "The Affordability of Energy: How Much Protection for the Vulnerable Consumers?," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 33(3), pages 225-245, September.
    4. Petteri Repo & Päivi Timonen, 2017. "Regime Market Performance Analysis: Informing European Consumer Policy," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 125-143, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. M. H. Austgulen, 2020. "Understanding National Preferences in EU Consumer Policy: A Regime Approach," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 767-798, December.
    2. C.-G. Stănescu, 2021. "Regulation of Abusive Debt Collection Practices in the EU Member States: An Empirical Account," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 179-216, June.
    3. L. Berg, 2022. "The Importance of Consumer Authorities for the Production and Maintenance of Trust and Social Capital in Consumer Markets," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 537-559, September.

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