Closed-loop supply chain network equilibrium strategy model with environmental protection objectives

With the increasing popularity of ecological civilization and sustainable development,enterprises should consider environmental protection measures in their operations in addition to pursue their economic interests.This paper establsihes a closed-loop supply chain network model composed of multiple suppliers,manufacturers,retailers,recyclers,and demand markets—regarding their dual goals of the profit maximization and the minimization of carbon emissions.The conditions necessary for establishing overall equilibrium and an equilibrium model of the entire closed-loop supply chain network are determined by applying variational inequality and dual theory.A modified projection contraction algorithm is used to design a model-solving program.Finally,using numerical examples,the paper conducts a comparative static analysis on important parameters such as the weight coefficients of environmental protection objectives and consumers'awareness of low-carbon environmental protection and attains some beneficial enlightenment on management.The results indicate that when the environmental protection objectives of a certain type of enterprise increases,both the economic benefits and environmental protection performance will improve;when the environmental protection objectives of all enterprises increases simultaneously,environmental protection performance improves significantly,but the changes in economic benefits of different enterprises are inconsistent and profit coordination is more complex.Although consumers’awareness of low-carbon preference could improve environmental performance,it reduces the overall profits of network members and the entire closed-loop supply chain network as a whole.The above conclusions can be used as a reference for the government in designing low-carbon environmental protection policy and in closed-loop supply chain research.

Risk Analysis and Consumer Protection in B2C Transactions

Recent studies have shown that the perceived lack of security is a major obstacle to the wider acceptance of e-commerce. To overcome this barrier, businesses need to implement comprehensive consumer protection systems that protect consumers during every stage of the purchasing process. This paper used the consumer behaviour model as the basis for analysing risks in Bussiness-to-Consumer (B2C) transactions. Four categories of risks were identified: information, agreement, payment and delivery risk. By combining these risk categories with the three dimensions of management, technology and legislation, a comprehensive B2C consumer protection framework is developed.

Statistical Analytical Study of the Impact of Consumer Awareness Among the Students of the Faculty of Business Administration at the University of Kuwait in Consumer Protection and Its Relationship to Some Economic and Social Characteristics

Kuwaiti youth is an importam element in the field of development in the Kuwaiti society, especially in the field of self- consciousness and social consciousness incident. As always said, that young Gulf inherently consumerist element of first degree because of abundant liquidity and reasonable level of income compared to others of non - Gulf societies. Therefore, this research aims to study and analyze the impact of consumer awareness among the students of the Faculty of Business Administration in consumer protection in terms of the current role and hoped to guide consumption and its relationship to some economic and social characteristics of the consumers. In particular it has been studying the impact of some of the qualifications for heads of Kuwaiti families, their total monthly income and their place of residency inhabited by the expressive factors of consumer awareness in college students as well as their impact on the degree of preference for quality of consumer goods in being a low-price, median-price or expensive-price. In addition, it has been studying the relationship of these social variables noted with the role of government and consumer protection associations through what they are doing to develop laws and policies directed to develop and educate consumers. To achieve these goals, a special questionnaire has been prepared especially for this purpose has been met from a random sample of students from the University of Kuwait. I have been using the appropriate statistical analysis to study these goals. Thus, some of the appropriate suggestions and recommendations are obtained to achieve the objectives of this research.

Private Sector Ombudsman and Strengthening Consumers＇ Access to Justice： The Experience From Yogyakarta

After the monetary and political crisis of 1997 and 1998, Indonesia has been viewed by some observers as having entered into a transitional phase from authoritarian rule by a strong state toward a new democratic system of government in which civil societies will play a more prominent role. Democratization process is also accompanied by the rise of a strong civil society, which would together result in more efficient and transparent governments at local levels. This article aims to show the dynamic of democratization process in Indonesia, in which civil societies such as business actors, NGOs （non-government organizations）, journalists, scientists, business associations, consumer organizations, etc., play a more apparent role. Focused on the establishment of Private Sector Ombudsman （Lembaga Ombudsman Swasta--LOS） and also its role and responsibility, the author examines how LOS has become an alternative option for consumers to strengthen access to justice. In the last three years, LOS has succeeded in handling more than 200 cases and some of them have been the hottest issues. On the one hand, the emergence of LOS shows that civil society in Yogyakarta has played a significant role in implementing business ethics and good governance principles, and on the other hand, LOS has been proven to be the answer for consumers＇ needs in which consumers＇ complaints settled quickly, informal, and free of charge.

E-commerce development in rural and remote areas of BRICS countries

E-commerce plays an essential role in modern trade today.It is expected that e-commerce volume amounted to 29 trillion USD in the world in 2017,and would grow with the spread of the Internet and information and communication technologies(ICTs).Brazil,Russia,India,China and South Africa(BRICS),together with many others,consider e-commerce a means to facilitate rapid,inclusive and sustainable economic growth,improving the living standards and alleviating poverty.This article examines areas for potential cooperation by BRICS countries in e-commerce development across rural and remote areas to fight poverty.It analyses the current state of e-commerce development in rural and remote areas in each of the BRICS countries,including cases of public and private initiatives to support it.The article also defines the opportunities which e-commerce brings to people living in rural and remote areas.Moreover,it evaluates the existing challenges and risks.The article concludes that despite the rapid e-commerce development in BRICS countries,and significant opportunities created,there are still issues of disproportionate e-commerce in varied regions and the lack of BRICS cooperation in this sphere.Based on a comparative and normative in-depth,systematic analysis,the article develops a set of recommendations for deepening BRICS countries'cooperation in the following areas:infrastructure in rural and remote regions;education;consumer protection;online dispute resolution;coordinated policy in the international scene,including representation of BRICS countries in international indexes,such as the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness Index(STRI).

On the Dilemma and Solutions of the No-Reading Problem in Digital Standard Form Consumer Contracts

The problem that consumers often fail to read the standard form contracts they willingly enter into has been recognized by many scholars.This is a pressing issue because it may result in the consumers being disadvantaged in bargains.Several laws have already been put in place to protect consumers,but the protection is often inadequate.This essay assesses how the current solutions are carried out and investigates whether new methods can be put in place.It argues that the key to dealing with the no-reading phenomenon is to make contracts more accessible to consumers so that they can be more inclined to guard their own interests.

A Study of Compensation for Mental Damage and its Related Issues

the “People’s Republic of China consumer protection law” enacted since October 1, 1993, although the body of consumers rights, right to health and life aspects of the more detailed provisions, but the spirit of damages to the corresponding compensation without effective feasible regulations, so that in judicial practice, judgments of similar cases the results vary greatly. Contrary to the equity of the law and the rule of law the same principle, can not adapt to the development of market economy, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of consumers deeper. Therefore, it has become a necessary trend to make up for the legislative defects of the system of compensation for mental damage, and to establish the system of compensation for mental damage.

Digital assets rights management through smart legal contracts and smart contracts

Intellectual property rights(IPR)management needs to evolve in a digital world where not only companies but also many independent content creators contribute to our culture with their art,music,and videos.In this respect,blockchain has recently emerged as a promising infrastructure,providing a trustworthy and immutable environment through the use of smart contracts,which may enable more agile management of digital rights and streamline royalty payments.However,no widespread consensus has been reached on the ability of this technology to adequately manage and transfer IPR.This paper presents an innovative approach to digital rights management developed within the scope of an international research endeavour co-financed by the European Commission named MediaVerse.The approach proposes the combined usage of smart legal contracts and blockchain smart contracts to take care of the legally binding contractual aspects of IPR and,at the same time,the need for notarization,rights transfer,and royalty payments.The work being conducted represents a contribution to advancing the current literature on IPR management that may lead to an improved and fairer monetization process for content creators as a means of individual empowerment.

Punitive Damages in China:Evolution and Application

The revised Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Consumers （Consumer Protection Law）, which sums up nearly twenty years of the evolution of Chinese punitive damages regulations, sets out a model system of punitive damages. These are in essence a special kind of penalty under a dual public-private legal system in which the punitive and deterrent functions of public law are realized through the mechanism of private law. Their application should be guided by the public law principle that the penalty should be proportionate to the offence. The question of whether the penalty is appropriate arises in the application of the two forms of punitive da^riages prescribed in the Consumer Protection Law--whether used separately or together, or in conjunction with or independently of fines or financial awards. The application of the new punitive damages regulations may overlap with the application of China＇s Food Safety Law and Tort Liability Law.