Consumer Protection in the United States: An Overview

Abstract

This chapter, which will appear in a forthcoming international anthology on consumer protection law, is a broad overview of United States consumer protection law and enforcement. It focuses on the utterly decentralized nature of consumer protection law in the U.S. and the combined roles of federal, state, local, and private law in deterring, detecting, and punishing deceptive and unfair conduct that injures consumers. It further summarizes federal, state, local, and private litigation options to obtain damages, restitution, and injunctive relief for consumers on an individual and class action basis. It ends with a partial list of consumer associations and other private non-profit group working in the consumer protection field.

Keywords: consumer protection, consumer law, federal trade commission, class actions, restitution, private rights of action, warranties, fraud, unfair trade, deceptive trade practices

JEL Classification: K20, K33, K40, K41, K42, K49