The Importance of Rights in the Reform of Consumption Pattern

The inappropriateness of consumption pattern in various areas, specially the consumption of nonrenewable and energy reserves, has become an important subject in Iran today, and as a Macro strategy and a national economic necessity, the Reform of Consumption Pattern has been placed on the agenda. The reality of extravagance (‘esraf’) and wastage of national resources and facilities is the result of various causes and factors, without the understanding and control of which, one cannot hope for the reform of consumption pattern. This study by inquiring that, in spite of the guidance of human intellect and Holy law towards optimum consumption and avoiding extravagance, why is the consumption pattern in Iran unreasonable?, puts forward the hypothesis that ignorance towards the consumer’s rights is one of the important factors in the unreasonableness of consumption pattern in this country. The results of this research show that inaccessibility to information regarding the quality of the goods offered, inexistence of choosing power in the competitive market, non-existence of tough laws regarding the responsibility of producers of defected goods, existence of bureaucratic and economic corruption, and consequently no control with regards to undesirable goods and finally, not benefitting from public participation in the organizations to defending consumer rights, are various factors that, while being a cause of unfairness towards weak and vulnerable majority of the society i.e. the consumers, is also followed by irregular consumption and wastage of the country’s resources and capitals