The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection collected Rs 11.8 million through fines from various businesses during the first four months of the fiscal year. Despite the market inspections conducted by the department and other federal and local agencies, consumer protection remains a challenge. In this episode, we talk to Ms. Ayushma Maharjan about why common consumer protection measures the government uses, such as price control, quality control, and profit margin fixation, do little to protect consumers. She suggests that consumer protection laws first need to acknowledge that consumers are rational and make purchases that are best for them. She adds that legislations should focus on protecting consumers from violation of contracts between consumers and businesses rather than stipulating the terms of transaction between the two parties. Ms. Maharjan is a researcher at Samriddhi Foundation. In addition to consumer protection, she has done extensive research on education, agriculture, and public procurement. Prosperity Podcast is presented by Samriddhi Foundation. New episodes release on Tuesday at 6 PM every fortnight. To learn more about Prosperity Podcast, you can visit our website www.samriddhi.org If you have comments or feedback for us, please get in touch with us at [email protected] Related readings: Consumer Protection Act, 2075 Policy Brief - https://samriddhi.org/publications/consumer-protection-act-2075-policy-brief/ तोकियो चिउराको गुणस्तर - https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2020/08/889370 बजार अनुगमन टोलीलाई नै व्यापारी पक्राउ गर्ने अधिकार - https://nayapatrikadaily.com/news-details/54038/2020-11-02 University of London, ‘The Role of Negative Emotions in the Social Processes of Entrepreneurship: Power Rituals and Shame-Related Appeasement Behaviors’ - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263670423_The_Role_of_Negative_Emotions_in_the_Social_Processes_of_Entrepreneurship_Power_Rituals_and_Shame-Related_Appeasement_Behaviors