Course: Consumer Policy (lecture) (5206-511)

Persons:

• Prof.Dr. Michael Ahlheim (verantwortlich)

Type of Course:

lecture

In-Class Hours Per Week:

2

Contents:

The lecture course deals with market failure in the consumption sector and with the possibilities of government intervention in order to protect the interests of consumers. Special emphasis will be laid on the problem of consumer information and on suitable policy instruments to address this problem. Major theoretical topics include asymmetric information, price and quality uncertainty, moral hazard, adverse selection, and principal-agency theory. An overview will be given of market mechanisms that deal with information issues such as marketing, advertising, warranties, licensing etc. Another topic of this lecture course will be the protection of consumers against exploitation due to monopolistic or oligopolistic market structures.

Literature:

Introductory literature on theory and practical application will be provided on ILIAS. In addition to this, suitable literature to individual topics will also be announced in the lecture course appositely.

Location:

Hohenheim

Remarks:

Further information can be found on the homepage of the chair (https://umweltoekonomie.uni-hohenheim.de/).

Module:

• 5206-510 Consumer Policy (compulsory)