From an economic point of view, there has to be a rationale for government intervention in markets in the form of consumer protection laws. This rationale results from economic inefficiencies in markets: particularly the occurrence of market failures. If markets do not work properly, inefficient...

In this article, the authors analyse the Dutch Collective Settlement of Mass Damage Act (WCAM 2005) in light of the European developments concerning collective redress. Both the strong and weak points of the WCAM 2005 are discussed

The paper identifies a policy inconsistency between the EU's asylum and the EU's labour migration policies and makes a call for stronger convergence. The analysis starts off by setting out the EU's current and future economic challenges with a view to its ageing population and low fertility...

German Abstract: Der Beitrag setzt das VSGB in den unionsrechtlichen Kontext. Die folgenden Ausführungen bespiegeln das Gesetz im Kontext vergangener, aktueller sowie geplanter EU-Gesetzesvorhaben im Verbraucherrecht. Der unionsrechtliche Hintergrund wird aus zwei Blickwinkeln heraus...

In the law and economics literature liability is generally regarded as an instrument which provides potential tortfeasors with incentives for optimal care taking. The question, however, arises whether liability can still provide those incentives when risks are unknown. That is the central...

Consumer law enforcement is high on the European legislator's agenda. The German consumer law enforcement landscape is not unaffected by these European developments. Traditionally, law enforcement in Germany has primarily been carried out by way of civil litigation relying on active consumer...

Key PointsFollowing (price-increasing) competition law infringements, consumer harm is two-fold.Consumers are negatively impacted by (i) the overcharge (they pay more for the goods actually purchased during the infringement period) and (ii) a ‘lost consumption effect’ (they buy less because...

German Abstract: Trickbetrügereien entwickeln sich über die Jahre mit. Die Beziehung zwischen Verbrauchern und Anbietern hat vor allem im letzten Jahrzehnt beträchtliche Veränderungen erfahren. Insbesondere hat sich der Online-Handel zu einem alltäglichen Phänomen entwickelt. Geschäfte...

This paper looks at the effectiveness and usefulness of establishing a self-regulatory entity (SRE) in the advertising sector. In different countries one finds different forms of this type of institution. It may play a role in ensuring that misleading and aggressive advertisements are stopped...