Economic Deregulation and the Least Affluent: Consumer Protection Strategies

Abstract

In the past decade, legislators and regulators fully or partially deregulated eight major industries. The deregulation of natural gas, depository banking, and telephone services in particular had profound effects on low‐income households. This paper examines these impacts and the reaction of consumers, consumer advocates, and public policymakers. It finds many parallels in related economic, psychological, and political developments resulting from deregulation of the three industries. It also suggests implications for research on economic deregulation, low‐income consumers, and the consumer movement.