Call for papers/ Invitation to Nordic research seminar
in Oslo 10th-11th of March 2005
Consumers in “the new regulatory state”:
Does a Nordic model of consumer protection (still) exist?
You are welcome to participate at a research conference in Oslo 10th-11th of March 2005 on
implications for consumers of changes in regulatory policies in the Nordic countries and the EU. We
invite theoretical as well as empirical presentations related to changes in policies on consumer
protection and consumers’ influence in society.
Strong state involvement and a high level of protection have characterized Nordic consumer policies.
The consumers’ protection has been “guaranteed” through public policy, first of all by means of public
regulations and direct enforcement (often by means of criminal law). This has been the case in areas
such as e.g. product safety, food safety, environment, advertising guidelines and rules related to
consumers’ right to return products and complaints. Environmental governance has been employed
among other things as voluntary agreements between businesses and governments. We want to know
whether this description still fits the situation in the different Nordic countries. In light of
developments within the European Union and the World Trade Organization (and e.g. Codex
Alimentarius), we would like to know whether a genuine Nordic model of consumer influence and
protection still is distinguishable.
We would also like to know where consumer interests stand in relation to the EU-Commission’s
increasing emphasis on self-regulation and so called co-regulation. Are these “soft” kinds of regulation
representing a modernization of the Nordic corporative kind of governance and a de facto
dissemination of this model to the rest of the EU? Or are they representing something genuinely new,
a rewriting of rules constituting new political and economic relations between stakeholders in society?
In case of the latter, how are such forms of regulation complying with democratic ideals of public
representation, openness and transparency? What kinds of mechanisms for enforcement are available
for non-compliance to codes of conduct and voluntary standards?
An abstract has to be in our hands by e-mail by the 11th of February for dissemination to other
participants. We plan for each participant to hold presentations of 30 minutes and allow time for
discussions between the presentations. In the seminar presentations should be available in Powerpoint
(or similar formats), if possible written as papers. Presentations will be published as edited
proceedings in a reportseries from the Nordic Council of Ministers, who is financing this seminar.
These reports are widely distributed in the Nordic countries, and are available through agents in more
than 20 countries. Through the seminar we hope to establish a network whereto base further work on
possible EU FR6-project applications.
The seminar will be held at Comfort Hotel Gabelshus in Oslo, and participants will be accommodated
here (http://www.gabelshus.no/). All reservations will be through us. We will cover transportation
costs as far as our budget allows. Please choose cheapest flights available.
A detailed program will be available by the 16th of February. Inquiries may be directed to Harald
Throne-Holst or Eivind Jacobsen at the National Institute for Consumer Research Norway.
Harald Throne-Holst
e-mail: harald.throne-holst@sifo.no
Dir. Line: +47 22043573
Eivind Jacobsen
e-mail: eivind.jacobsen@sifo.no
Dir. line: + 47 22043535
National Institute for Consumer Research (SIFO)
P.O.BOX 4682, Nydalen
N-0405 Oslo
Phone: + 47 22043500 Fax: + 4722043504
www.sifo.no