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The Consumer in Our Society
ResEc 162, Fall 2007
Professor Sheila Mammen

Class Meetings: Tues. & Thurs. 9:30-10:45 AM, Hasbrouck 126
Office: 303 Stockbridge Hall
Email: smammen@resecon.umass.edu
Telephone: 413-545-2470
Office Hours:

Class Objectives:

This course provides an analysis of the changing role of the consumer in society. It examines a variety of consumer problems and issues, including the identification of consumer interest, impact of advertising, use of credit, consumer rights and responsibilities, fraud, and legal protections available to consumers. Having successfully completed this course, you should be able to:

1. gain a better understanding of the American economic system;
2. understand how the consumer functions in the marketplace and identify the social, economic, and political forces that shape consumer demand;
3. utilize economic concepts critical to consumer success;
4. analyze current issues and problems as they affect the individual consumer, the household as a consuming unit, and society at large;
5. recognize frauds and misrepresentations in the marketplace; and
6. examine the roles played by local, state, and federal consumer protection agencies.