论结果导向的信息披露

On the Result-oriented Disclosure of Information

我国消费者法中的经营者信息披露制度,以交易前的商品或服务信息为披露内容。这种相对静态的信息披露对消费者作出正确的消费选择是必须的,但在免费、低价等交易情形下,消费者必须先作出消费决策,才能在后续时间内接受服务或获取商品,这一时间差极易使消费者的认知偏差和心理弱点被经营者利用,消费者利益可能被损害于无形之中。针对这种行为的市场失灵,需要在我国的消费者法中建立一种结果导向的信息披露制度。在此制度下,结果导向的信息由经营者在交易前向消费者披露,被披露的信息应当跨越一个完整的交易过程,真实、全面地反映交易的成本或收益,从而使消费者更好地作出知情选择。在认识交易公平、市场失灵以及探究合适、有效的公权规制方面,行为经济学的知识和视野不可或缺。

Under China’s consumer law, operators must disclose information on goods or services prior to the transaction. This relatively static information disclosure is necessary if consumers are to make the right consumption choices, but in the case of free or low-cost transactions, consumers must make their decisions before receiving goods or services goods at a later date. This time difference enables operators to play on consumers’ cognitive biases and psychological weaknesses, thus imperceptibly harming consumer interests. To address this market failure, we must set up a result-oriented information disclosure system in China’s consumer law. Under this system, result-oriented information would be disclosed to consumers before the transaction and the information disclosure would cover the complete transaction process in such a way as to faithfully and comprehensively reflect the transaction’s costs and benefits, thus enabling consumers to make an informed choice. The knowledge and approach of behavioral economics is indispensable in gaining an understanding of fair trade and market failure and in exploring the appropriate and effective regulation of public rights.