Verletzliche Verbraucher wider Willen. Funktionale Analphabeten, Menschen mit kognitiver Beeinträchtigung und das Informationsparadigma der europäischen Verbraucherpolitik

Abstract

This paper examines the question of how to identify and quantify the group of vulnerable consumers. Besides the criteria of „minimal economic knowledge“ developed by Wobker et al. attention is drawn to a study on functional illiteracy in Germany. Findings are that insufficient literacy is a constitutive element for vulnerable consumers as well. Furthermore the paper evaluates whether people with mental disability on behalf of functional illiterates have a right to demand consumer information in an easy-to-read language.