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This study aimed to develop a consumer empowerment model by adopting the Social Cognitive Theory and the Empowerment Theory in explaining consumer empowerment. Specifically, this study intended to identify the relationships between consumer self‐efficacy, intensity of consumer education, personality traits, social media and consumer empowerment. A total of 400 respondents had participated in this study and were selected using a multi‐stage probability sampling. The data were collected through a self‐administered questionnaire. A multiple linear regression was conducted to predict the correlation between the independent variables and consumer empowerment. The finding revealed that the intensity of consumer education, self‐efficacy, social media and aggressive personality were positively related to consumer empowerment, whereas the assertive personality variable was deleted from the model because it did not have a significant relationship with consumer empowerment. The results can significantly contribute to improving the current consumer policy and developing effective consumer education programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study intends to measure consumer empowerment related to food consumption and determine its effect on food risk perception and satisfaction with food consumption. Data were derived from an analysis of the "2017 Research on Food Consumption Behaviour" by the Korea Rural Economic Institute. Consumer empowerment, risk perception and satisfaction with food consumption were measured using a 5‐point Likert scale. The differences in consumer empowerment according to gender, age, educational level and monthly income were statistically significant. The factors that affected risk perception were information use, healthy eating, consumer rights, consumer responsibility and monthly income. The higher the scores for information use, healthy eating and consumer responsibility, the higher the score for satisfaction with food consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article develops the findings of an evaluation of European Commission consumer education, information and capacity building actions conducted in 2011, with an examination of action taken by 2016 to address the recommendations. Based on empirical research of documents, in-depth interviews, focus groups and semi-structured surveys of Directorate General for Health and Consumers and Directorate General for Education and Culture policy networks, it discusses the journey taken to improve consumer education and empowerment throughout Europe. Implementation of the recommendations aims to transform consumer education and empowerment in Europe, with integrated and updated resources for the maximum number of teachers across the European Union, where teachers can focus the resources on consumer education activities relevant for their learners. A key focus of the new developments is to deliver higher European Union (pan-European) added-value, better coordination and synergies with national activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clear understanding of consumer empowerment is central to enriching research regarding the business-society interface and, more tangibly, the advancement of public policy. We aim to provide a clear and comprehensive understanding of the complex concept of consumer empowerment. To do so, we use historical analysis to critically examine and deconstruct the current, dominant conceptualization that equates consumer empowerment with choice. Subsequently, drawing on the paradigm of critical theory, we develop an alternate definition of the concept that more fully recognizes the citizenship role enacted by individuals in their daily lives. We conclude by discussing on how this renewed understanding can be implemented in both future research and public policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization has created new consumer needs and wants, and resulted in consumer confusion regarding the increasing complexity of products and services. This has stimulated global interest in educating and empowering consumers. The UK government has made a very ambitious commitment to ensure that the framework for consumer empowerment and support is at the level of the best in the world by 2008. The government, many consumer organizations and regulators believe that empowered consumers are key to the success of competitive markets. Two national strategies to co-ordinate activities in the UK have been developed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The OFT consumer education strategy aims to deliver targeted, effective consumer education by increasing co-ordination and making the best use of available resources. The FSA is leading a financial capability strategy designed to deliver change to improve the UK's financial capability. Both strategies share a vision of educated and confident consumers making informed choices about the products and services they buy, and both aim to empower vulnerable consumers. Given the global interest and the development of national strategies, it is useful to consider what is meant by the term consumer empowerment. Is there a shared view of consumer empowerment internationally? Does the education of consumers result in empowered consumers? To what extent do the national strategies address the empowerment of vulnerable, disadvantaged, excluded or susceptible consumers? These questions will be addressed in this article which reviews the global context for the consumer education and empowerment agenda and considers key UK developments, with particular reference to the needs of vulnerable consumers. The study found that the language of consumer empowerment is gaining prominence in policy and strategy documents at the highest levels internationally in the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Community, and nationally in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For dealing with various societal problems, ‘political’/‘ethical’/‘responsible’ consumerism is often discussed as an effective democratic and participatory tool. However, political consumerism – along with its tools, such as product labelling – is often conceived and discussed in oversimplified ways. Instead, the tension between scientific complexity, knowledge uncertainty and a codified, standardized label involves extensive political strategy, interest conflicts and simplified framings of the consumers’ roles as political decision makers. The purpose of this paper is to analyse how criteria for organic food labelling have been simplified, or framed, within various versions of political consumerism in policy debates. The more general purpose is to examine variations of what consumerism may entail theoretically and practically. Examples are chosen of organic food labelling in the US. The analysis is based on framing theory. The first distinction is made between framings surrounding the extrinsic and intrinsic values of consumerism (i.e. consumer empowerment towards an external goal, or as an overriding principle of democracy). The second distinction is between product- and process-oriented consumerism (i.e. consumer empowerment with regard to the purchased goods or concerning the ‘invisible’ production and disposal processes). These distinctions may facilitate critical examinations of criteria, processes and communication of consumer-related policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A web-based survey was completed by 130 faculty and staff from a university located in the south-eastern United States. The purposes of this study were to investigate: (a) consumer characteristics related to online shopping; (b) benefits of online shopping as perceived by online shoppers; and (c) concerns about online shopping as perceived by non-online shoppers. Responses were analysed using SPSS for tests of chi-square. Findings suggest that the differences between online shoppers and non-online shoppers correspond with Rogers’ [sup 1] categories of adopters, and that the educational needs of consumers also differ based on their previous experience with online shopping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The aim of this paper is two-fold: (i) to describe the development of a new measuring instrument for quality of care from the perspective of the users of local authority Occupational Therapy (OT) services, and (ii) to evaluate the potential of the new instrument as a standardized approach for involving consumers in the service evaluation of home health care services. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Focus group discussions with users of local authority OT-services preceded a postal survey. Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 997 users of the local authority OT Bureau in Kent, UK. The response rate was 55%. A valid and reliable instrument – the QUOTE-OT Services questionnaire – was developed, which reflects the (expressed) needs of the users of OT services. Feasibility tests showed that information from the instrument can play an important role in follow-up activities that aim at continuous quality improvement. The QUOTE-OT Services instrument can be seen as an example of a new generation of questionnaires for assessing user views in quality of care research. Potentially, instruments such as the QUOTE-OT questionnaire contribute to the empowerment of users in programmes that aim at improving the quality of home health care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]