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Coronavirus as a Catalyst to Transform Consumer Policy and Enforcement

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  • C. Riefa

    (Brunel University)

Abstract

A review of the unfair commercial practices (including price gouging) that have emerged in the context of the pandemic lead us to reflect on how effective consumer law enforcement is at this juncture. This article calls for the pandemic to act as a catalyst to review the way consumer law has so far approached markets and their regulation. It argues that now, more than ever, consumer law needs to protect the vulnerable and public enforcement mechanisms must be able to prevent harm as much as possible rather than repair it. Fairness should be by design and not something that is offered to consumers simply as a remedy. The article explores some viable solutions to effect this transformation of consumer policy and enforcement beyond the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • C. Riefa, 2020. "Coronavirus as a Catalyst to Transform Consumer Policy and Enforcement," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 451-461, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jcopol:v:43:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s10603-020-09462-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10603-020-09462-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hans-W. Micklitz & Przemysław Pałka & Yannis Panagis, 2017. "The Empire Strikes Back: Digital Control of Unfair Terms of Online Services," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 367-388, September.
    2. Frosio, Giancarlo, 2017. "Reforming Intermediary Liability in the Platform Economy: A European Digital Single Market Strategy," SocArXiv w7fxv, Center for Open Science.
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    Cited by:

    1. C.-G. Stănescu, 2021. "A Critical Assessment of the Need for Harmonization of the Legal Framework Concerning Abusive Informal Debt Collection Practices in the European Union," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 531-557, December.
    2. Célia Taborda Silva, 2021. "Democracy and Popular Protest in Europe: The Iberian Case (2011)," European Journal of Social Sciences Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 4, July -Dec.

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