ISBN: 978-92-64-06008-1 Pages: 190 Published: March 2009

Table of contents | How to obtain this book   Consumers today are challenged by growing amounts of information and wider choices of products. To make good choices in increasingly complex markets, they must develop a greater range of skills and knowledge. This can be greatly facilitated through improved awareness and education.   This publication examines the approaches that governments use to promote consumer education in OECD and some non-OECD countries, highlighting the policies and measures that have been particularly effective. It also analyses recent trends, the role of stakeholders, steps being taken to evaluate the effectiveness of current programmes, and the principal challenges.

Based on the analytic results of this publication, the OECD Committee on Consumer Policy is developing policy recommendations to promote and improve consumer education. The recommendations will focus on the issues such as:

• defining the objectives and strategies of consumer education and evaluating outcomes,
• selecting the most appropriate approach in consumer education, and
• improving co-operation and co-ordination among stakeholders.

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Table of contents

 

Chapter 1. Overview
Background | Definition and goals of consumer education | Consumer protection and awareness | Consumer skills |  Public interest | Structure of consumer education | Formal education | Lifelong education | Targeted education | Institutions | Non-governmental stakeholders | Co-operative schemes | Evaluation of consumer education programmes | Key issues and challenges

Annex 1.A1. Evolution of the Concept of Consumer Education

Annex 1.A2. Institutional Framework for Consumer Education

Annex 1.A3. Major Initiatives in Consumer Education

Annex 1.A4. Summary of Key Challenges in Consumer Education

Annex 1.A5. Questionnaire on Consumer Education: Consumer Rights

 

Chapter 2. Analysis of Selected Countries
Australia | Ireland | Japan | Korea | Mexico | Norway | Portugal | Slovak Republic | Spain | Thailand | Turkey | United Kingdom | United States | United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Annex 2.A1. Consumer Education Strategy Analysis Template

 

Chapter 3. Summary and Conclusions
General approach to consumer education | Formulating goals for consumer education | Key approaches to consumer education | Lifelong learning | Formal education | Targeted education | Communication | Co-operation and co-ordination among stakeholders | Evaluation | Challenges

 

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