3.3 The power of the consumer

The power of consumers to influence producers and their products Consumers can have a large influence over producers. Through their buying choices, consumers can almost FORCE producers to adapt their products to their demands. – Boycott – consumers stop buying or using a product as a protest, to force a company to do, or stop doing, a particular action – Product reviews – Consumer Pressure - Buying products they WANT shops to stock (ie: Fair Trade products) – opposite of Boycott – Organise protests – Write to MP – Petitions

Multinational Corporations Businesses which are established around the world IE: Coca-cola, Nike, McDonald’s... These businesses have A LOT of power and have been known to set up SWEATSHOP FACTORIES in developing countries – These factories pay very low wages, have poor working conditions, long working hours, and hire young children This leads to an ETHICAL issue: is it right that we should be able to wear cheap clothes, for example, while the person who made them cannot afford to feed their family?

Department for International Development (DFID) The part of the UK Government that manages Britain’s aid to poor countries. It works to: – Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger – Achieve universal primary education – Ensure environmental sustainability.