摘要:

In this two‐part article, current methodological approaches to the evaluation of consumer protection reforms are critically reviewed. In Part I, three quasi‐experimental research designs commonly used to evaluate consumer protection initiatives are examined. It is shown that these designs are inherently incapable of yielding strong conclusions about the effects of a law or regulation. In Part II, which will be published in the next issue, research designs which allow stronger causal inferences about the effects of a reform proposal are reviewed. Implications of the review are then discussed in terms of future public policy and evaluation research in the consumer protection a

ISSN:0022-0078    

DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6606.1979.tb00138.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1979

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Under Rhode Island's statewide Catastrophic Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) in effect since January, 1975, and similar to the Long‐Ribicoff National Health Insurance Proposal, Rhode Island pays catastrophic medical expenses over and above a “personal resource payment” (out‐of‐pocket expenses) that varies with income and amount and type of health insurance coverage. Those with qualified plans (plans providing more services) pay less out‐of‐pocket. Benefits accrue mainly to some middle income households. CHIP has increased demand for and prices for health insurance with qualifying coverage, and utilization of medical care. Similar impacts on a larger scale may be expected from any national health insu

ISSN:0022-0078    

DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6606.1979.tb00139.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1979

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

In order to evaluate a food advertising regulation proposed by the FTC, this paper examines some empirical studies of food marketing practices and their influence on consumer attitudes and behavior toward nutrition information and dietary habits. The requirement for affirmative disclosure of nutrition information may fall short of its intended goal because consumers have low motivation to use such information and inadequate comprehension of it. Moreover, the limited information processing capacity of the average person may preclude effective communication of nutrition information in a television commercial. The regulation's most likely impact would be to create awareness of nutrition information and increase the salience of nutrition in the consumer's food choices. Unless consumer education programs are coordinated with the regulatory efforts, lack of motivation and comprehension in the use of nutrition information will be a major barrier in achieving any significant improvement in the nutrition status of consumers.

ISSN:0022-0078    

DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6606.1979.tb00140.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1979

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

A sample of major advertisers of durable and nondurable consumer products were asked to provide substantiation of scientific and puffery product claims made in television and magazine advertising. The companies were asked to respond directly to an interested consumer and the responses were evaluated on an “average man” basis. The results indicated that many advertisers cannot or will not successfully substantiate their product claims despite the efforts of the Federal Trade Commission's advertising substantiation program. One proposed remedy is to require advertisers to substantiate claims directly to consumers, on requ

ISSN:0022-0078    

DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6606.1979.tb00141.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1979

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Prior investigations have indicated that relationships between price and product quality are considerably weaker for non‐durables than for durables. Among non‐durables, packaged food products frequently have exhibited the poorest correspondence between price and quality. This study, utilizing data from Consumers Union, analyzes the relationships between price and a measure of product quality for 679 brands in forty packaged food product classes over a fifteen year period. The study generally confirms earlier preliminary conclusions that the correlation between quality and price for packaged food products is near zero. In addition, the findings indicate that convenience foods, particularly frozen foods, display the poorest correspondence between price and product quality with more than 43 percent of all frozen food product classes exhibiting negative relationships between price and product quality. Some possible explanations for these findings and their implications for public policy are advan

ISSN:0022-0078    

DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6606.1979.tb00142.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1979

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Supermarkets regularly advertise food specials to provide information on new products and seasonal products, to induce new customers to the store and to retain old customers by good price / quality relationships. But how important are the purchase of advertised food specials to food shoppers? Do they realize significant savings from buying advertised specials? If advertised specials are not available, how much do consumers lose? These questions are addressed in this article through the use of a Monte Carlo simulation, based on a comprehensive conceptual model of the determinants of unavailability.

ISSN:0022-0078    

DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6606.1979.tb00143.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1979

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

This paper reports on a study which explored consumers' reaction to the variable rate mortgage, which represents an innovation in residential mortgages in the United States. The sample consisted of California home buyers who had obtained either a variable rate mortgage (VRM) or a fixed rate mortgage (FRM). The results suggest that lenders have not discriminated against minority or lower‐income people in granting VRMs. VRM users were more knowledgeable about and favorable toward VRMs than were FRM users. VRM users were, however, less satisfied with their mortgages and less inclined to prefer the same type of mortgage for a future home purchase than were FRM user

ISSN:0022-0078    

DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6606.1979.tb00144.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1979

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The nature of market concentration in the mass media industries and its implications for diversity of consumer choice are examined. Criteria for evaluating policy alternatives that might increase consumer choice are developed. The policy alternatives evaluated using these criteria are: breaking up large media corporations; growth of cable television; government assistance in financing alternative media; an excise tax on media “excess profits” for alternative media; regulating to ensure greater content diversity; de‐regulation; de‐regulation with community control; and, increasing diversity through media labor union co

ISSN:0022-0078    

DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6606.1979.tb00145.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1979

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

This paper investigates significant gaps in the information available to prospective home buyers as perceived by recent purchasers. The gaps in available information perceived by recent purchasers included the fair value of the house, its structural condition, and the ambience of the neighborhood. It was found that independent or personal sources were used for subjective information while objective data tended to be obtained from marketer‐dominated source

ISSN:0022-0078    

DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6606.1979.tb00146.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1979

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Retail credit user's awareness of their credit insurance coverage was investigated in telephone interviews. Respondents were divided into two groups: Aware, those who said they had credit insurance and actually did (63 percent of the respondents); and Unaware, those who said they had no credit insurance but actually did (37 percent). The distribution of awareness differed with age and outstanding credit balance. Awareness did not, however, differ with annual income, sex and education. Misperceptions that credit insurance was required also were investigated.

ISSN:0022-0078    

DOI:10.1111/j.1745-6606.1979.tb00147.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1979

数据来源: WILEY