Is ADR the Superior Mechanism for Consumer Contractual Disputes? – An Assessment of the Incentivizing Effects of the ADR Directive

Journal of Consumer Policy (online first) 2015

26 Pages Posted: 21 May 2015

See all articles by Franziska Weber

Franziska Weber

Erasmus University Rotterdam School of Law, Rotterdam Institute of Law and Economics

Date Written: December 1, 2014

Abstract

The European legislator has adopted a new Directive on ADR which sets out minimum requirements for ADR entities throughout the European Union. From a law and economics point of view law enforcement is crucial to induce compliance. ADR can be viewed as a means of strengthening consumer law enforcement, leading to compliance at lower costs. Certain conditions, however, have to be fulfilled to exploit the benefits of an ADR mechanism successfully. The goal of this paper is to look into these conditions more specifically and critically assess the ADR Directive in light of these requirements. It is divided into a theoretical section and the analysis of the EU Directive. The main concern results to be the fact that ADR boards with very strong links to traders are allowed under the Directive. When looking at the composition of the bodies, a complicated compromise was enacted that is able to impede the working of such ADR bodies. Given that the Directive aims at minimum harmonization Member States have the opportunity to provide for a better design in their respective countries responding to this main concern and other critical points identified in the paper.

Keywords: Law enforcement, alternative dispute resolution, law and economics, cost-effectiveness, capture, minimum harmonisation

JEL Classification: K41, K42

Suggested Citation

Weber, Franziska, Is ADR the Superior Mechanism for Consumer Contractual Disputes? – An Assessment of the Incentivizing Effects of the ADR Directive (December 1, 2014). Journal of Consumer Policy (online first) 2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2607445

Franziska Weber (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam School of Law, Rotterdam Institute of Law and Economics ( email )

Campus Woudestein Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
Rotterdam, 3062 PA
Netherlands

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