Consumer knowledge [antikvár]

aCONSUMER PROTECTION - INTRODUCTION INTO THE PROBLEMIntroductionEvery day, citizens and businessmen enter the process of buying things. The relation between sellers and buyers has been developing for centuries to the present state when the process is controlled by strict law regulations and stable moral norms.The system of consumer protection is an important part of business environment and in all states of European Union it is based on the same law principles and procedures.In the law environment, the consumer is the weaker subject; therefore it is necessary to protect him/her. The Illusion that the force lies in the number of consumers is completely wrong. The consumers may leave a non-reliable seller but he can still - if his workshop has an advantageous position in the market - secure high profits thanks to accidental clients. If the economic competition is disturbed, the seller gains a monopoly position and the consumers are again in an unfavourable situation.Consumer protection and liberal economic theorySome economic theories say that the market is able to secure protection to the consumer by its self-regulating measures and that it is not necessary for the state to regulate the consumer protection. The market really removes the seller who breaks the law and generally accepted moral regulations. This process of self-regulation takes a long time and from this reason it is essential to put control and action mechanism guaranteed by the state into operation. These may remove the imperfection of the market; they may reach better equilibrium and transparency in the relations between buyers and sellers. Through suitable measures, the state can initiate the development of such market conditions that give the possibility of better choice and better prices to the consumer and it can also support the development of civil consumer initiatives with respect to their indifference to politics and independence.In the time of today's economic tendencies towards concentration and globalisation, the heightened consumer protection is inevitable. The consumer can defend himself by his own forces only against small service providers. He is in unfavourable position against big concerns; he needs the help of a larger subject that is able to compete with the big opponent. Only the state, or the public administrative body with the cooperation of consumer associations, can act as such a helper. These can give initiatives to carry out and to improve consumer protection to the public administrative bodies, or they can directly plead for the interests of consumers in disputes over their rights.