What do you think should be the role of government to protect consumers?
The government should establish rules and regulations to ensure protection for consumers in the marketplace. Since individual consumers often find themselves in a weak position against sellers, the government must enact laws like the Consumer Protection Act 1986 (COPRA). This helps correct business conduct that is unfair or against the interests of consumers.
Additionally, the government should provide an easy and effective public system for justice. This ensures that consumers can exercise their right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices. The government must also ensure that consumers have the right to get compensation depending on the degree of damage caused by goods or services.
Explanation
The answer is derived from the textbook's discussion on the need for legal frameworks like COPRA and the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection. It highlights the government's responsibility to intervene because individual consumers are weak against sellers. The key points include making rules, enacting laws, and setting up redressal mechanisms for compensation, all of which are explicitly mentioned in the provided context.