Consumer Economics

From artificial intelligence to identity theft and increasing concerns about privacy and sustainability, consumer issues are an integral part of daily life. This updated fifth edition of Consumer Economics offers students an accessible and thorough guide to the concerns surrounding the modern consumer and brings to light the repercussions of making uninformed decisions in today’s global economy.

This definitive textbook introduces students to these potential issues and covers key topics, including consumer behavior, the history of the consumer movement, personal finance, legal rights and responsibilities, as well as marketing and advertising. Combining theory and practice, students are introduced to both the fundamentals of consumer economics and how to become better-informed consumers themselves. Highlights in this new edition include:

• new case studies and projects to encourage students to develop their critical thinking skills through analyzing global consumer issues
• coverage of the influence of AI, FinTech and digital platforms on everyday decision-making
• expanded discussion of cybersecurity, data privacy and ethical consumerism
• revised consumer alerts: practical advice and guidance to help students make smart consumer decisions
• PowerPoint slides and a test bank of questions for each chapter.

This textbook is suitable for students studying consumer sciences to understand what works, what doesn’t and how consumers are changing.