Explains price and product discrimination, showing how intelligent consumers can achieve increased purchasing power of their income and discusses how consumer educators can explain this discrimination. Evaluates the pros and cons of price/product discrimination from the social viewpoint. (Author/JOW)

The poor pay more than the non-poor for similar products in many consumer goods markets. This disparity seems not to be addressed by consumer protection regulations like disclosure laws. Several lines of argument suggest that the poor will not benefit from disclosure regulation either because they lack the ability to use information effectively…

The report urges that every seller review, and where necessary modernize, his internal complaint-handling procedures and his methods for resolving disputes in the light of the following recommendations: (1) The handling of consumer complaints should be swift, personalized, courteous, and as effectively managed as any other function of prime…

Among the 90 papers on topics relating to the consumer are "Academics and Advocates" (Brobeck); "Economic Profile of the Young and Elderly" (Ryscavage); "Estimation of Savings Needs To Adequately Fund Baby Boomers' Retirement" (Burns); "Saving and Dissaving in Retirement" (Hogarth); "Analysis of Effects of Children on Consumption and Savings…

This module is one of a set of seven prepared in conjunction with the title I "Project to Train Volunteer Leaders to Conduct Consumer Education Courses." It is designed to be a basic text for use in making a one-hour presentation on how to buy goods and services. An accompanying slide set is keyed to the text of the module. (An illustration of…

Low-income consumers badly need special purchasing skills, due to merchandising practices and greater markups for durable goods in low-income communities. The author discusses some of the ways in which these people are victimized, with implications for consumer education. (MF)

This booklet provides guidelines for buying major home appliances from ranges and refrigerators to washers and dryers, as well as wood and upholstered furniture, and bedding and floor coverings, with helpful charts to make selection easier. It begins with suggestions on how to furnish within one's means. Next, information on equipping the home…

This booklet on shopping, 1 in a series of 12, covers all the basic aspects of personal- and family-money management. Suitable for use by high school and college students as well as adults, this handbook tells how to plan spending, develop shopping skills, and handle consumer problems effectively. Section 1 on consumers and the economy overviews…

Examines the prevailing myth that children's well-being increases through consumerism. Addresses the scope of child-focused consumption, negative impact of child-oriented consumerism on child development, creation of an imagination-stifling environment; and the relationship between instant gratification and avoidance of challenges. Concludes that…

This handbook is intended to help consumers exercise their rights in the marketplace in three ways: (1) it shows how to communicate more effectively with manufacturers, retailers, and service providers; (2) it is a self-help manual for resolving in dividual consumer complaints; and (3) it lists helpful sources of assistance. The handbook has two…

Designed for intermediate and junior high level students, the handbook gives 11 lessons using newspaper activities for teaching consumer education. The activities help students (1) define consumer education terms and distinguish between wants and needs; (2) define the term "caveat emptor" and understand the concept of consumer…

An analysis was made of the extent to which the safety characteristics of new vehicles affect consumer purchase decisions. Using an extensive data set that combines vehicle data collected by the Automobile Club of Southern California Target Car Program with the responses from a national household survey of new car buyers, a statistical model of…

The Illinois State Board of Education in cooperation with the Illinois Consumer Education Association produced this lesson plan book as a resource for teachers as they implement the consumer education mandate in secondary schools. Classroom instruction ideas, techniques, and lessons were provided by teachers from Illinois. A committee of consumer…

This document consists of a handbook for consumers and a teacher's guide to the handbook. The first part of the handbook gives advice on how to be a smart consumer and includes information on how to get the most for the money, handle a complaint, write a complaint letter, use the handbook, select child care, protect personal property, choose a…

Ten units on practical business are presented in this instructor and student guide. Each instructional unit contains objectives, suggested activities, information sheets, assignment sheets, transparency master, a test, and test answers. Unit topics are (1) before you buy (comparative shopping and wise purchasing techniques); (2) when things go…