News
Knowledge is power - The same is true for consumer policy. Knowledge is also the prerequisite for learning. That is why ConPolicy shares information about relevant news in the world of consumer policy and activities of the institute.
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Consumer organisations demand improvements to consumer protection in financial markets
Yesterday the international consumer movement celebrated World Consumers Right Day. The Federation of German Consumer Organisations, vzbv, demanded to institutionalize consumer protection in financial oversight institutions.... > read more
European consumer organizations demand consumer-friendly food labelling
Tomorrow MEPs on the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee will vote on new food labelling rules. European consumer organizations demand front-of-pack data on salt, sugar, total fat and... > read more
ConPolicy publishes Policy Brief on financial regulatory reform
Financial regulatory reform is at the top of the agenda for the United States legislature. One of the most controversial issues being debated is the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). Its mission would... > read more
A week for consumers - The US National Consumer Protection Week is launched
Consumer education is at the heart of the US National Consumer Protection Week that takes place March 7-13, 2010. The aim of the campaign is to better educate consumers about their rights. The event is sponsored by government... > read more
German parliament constitutes committee on inquiry on the “Internet and digital society”
On Thursday the German parliament decided to constitute a committee on inquiry on the “Internet and the digital society”. Parliamentarians argue that the digital age brings with it new opportunities for the individual as well as... > read more
German Institute for Economic Research calls for a systematic evaluation of the state-sponsored retirement provision
For years German consumer organizations have criticized the state-sponsored retirement provision, the Riesterrente. They point to unfair retail practices, insufficient disclosure of costs, inadequate consumer service and... > read more
German Federal Minister for Consumer Protection calls for more control over the use of personal data
On Tuesday this week the Cebit - a tradeshow for the digital industry - will open its gates. German Federal Minister for Consumer Protection, Ilse Aigner, criticizes the profiling of consumers by companies such as Facebook,... > read more
New EU justice commissioner will push ahead with the controversial “consumer rights directive“
In a presentation of her priorities for the next five years, new EU justice commissioner Viviane Reding said that she will push ahead with the controversial “consumer rights directive”. The directive seeks to harmonize consumer... > read more
FTC warns of improper release of sensitive consumer data on P2P file-sharing networks
The Federal Trade Commission notified almost 100 organizations that personal information - such as health-related information, financial records and social security numbers - has been shared from the organization’s computer... > read more
US consumers get important new credit card protections
As a reaction to the over-indebtedness of many US consumers and to get some relief from predatory credit and lending practices a new law offers safeguards to consumers. The Credit Card Act of 2009 partly resorts to bans as well... > read more
Australian and Spanish consumer organizations to present awards for good and bad corporate practices
World Consumer Rights Day will be celebrated on the 15th of March 2010. On this account Australian and Spanish consumer organizations invite consumers to vote on good and bad corporate practices. CHOICE of Australia will... > read more
British and US agencies crack down on scammers who target unemployed
High unemployment rates in Britain and the USA give rise to an increasing incidence of scams targeting victims of recession. The British Office of Fair Trading released survey results that show that one in four adults has at... > read more
ConPolicy publishes Policy Brief on consumer information
Consumer policy relies on information to encourage healthy life-styles or to improve the quality of consumer investments. Given the growing information-overload felt by consumers, however, it becomes necessary to ask in what... > read more
US consumer organizations defend watchdog for consumer financial products
To better protect consumers of mortgages, credit cards and other such products from abuses by lenders the Obama administration seeks to establish a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). This proposal faces stiff headwinds... > read more
ConPolicy publishes Policy Brief on behavioral economics
Over the last few years, insights into behavioural economics have gained much public attention. With the publication of their international bestseller Nudge, US academics Thaler and Sunstein have inspired a debate about... > read more
British Office of Fair Trading launches a Scams Awareness Month
New research reveals the large scale of mass-marketed scams sweeping across Britain. Scams arrive by post, email, text, phone or the internet and aim to mislead consumers to part with their cash. A study reveals that many... > read more
Study reveals that online information increasingly impact careers
On Privacy Day (28.01.2010) Microsoft revealed a study that shows that recruiters increasingly use information from the internet, blogs and social networks in their hiring processes. In particular, this research highlights... > read more
US consumer organization applauds White Hause proposal for new limits on big banks
The US consumer organization, Consumers Union, today welcomed the White House proposal to limit the size and risk-taking abilities of large financial institutions. The proposal aims to prevent banks from becoming so big that they... > read more
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