Geoff Browne-CAV Consumer Congress 2006, Affluenza Commentary

Affluenza: Implications for consumer agencies Geoff Browne Approach • Identify the key propositions made in Affluenza • Consider the role of consumer regulatory agencies • Apply the Affluenza propositions to current regulatory roles • Identify whether new or changed roles for consumer regulatory agencies emerge The Affluenza problem The marketing industry encourages overconsumption, leading to: • increased credit and debt (leading to personal and financial harm); • overwork (damaging personal and relationship health); and • environmental costs (waste; harm to natural environment) Simple consumption model Txn Txn representation representation supplier consumer Credit & Debt providers Activities of consumer agencies Fair market, terms Inform rights, warnings Txn Txn representation supplier consumer representation Credit & Debt providers Inform obligations Fair representations Inform obligations Affluenza consumption model Txn Txn supplier Marketer representation consumer representation Marketer Credit & Debt providers CREATE THE AFFLUENZA ENVIRONMENT Wellbeing Affluenza consumption model Txn Txn Work/ leisure trade-off representation supplier Marketer consumer representation Marketer Credit & Debt providers CREATE THE AFFLUENZA ENVIRONMENT Wellbeing Affluenza areas of concern Waste; environmental damage Harmful Txn Txn Harmful Work/ leisure trade-off supplier Marketer representation consumer representation Marketer Credit & Debt providers CREATE THE AFFLUENZA ENVIRONMENT Harmful Wellbeing Harmful