FINANCIAL SECURITIES FOR TOUR OPERATORS IN CASE OF INSOLVENCY RESULTING FROM THE DIRECTIVE 2015/2302 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL WHICH ARE IN FORCE IN POLAND

The insolvency of travel agencies is dealt with in a special way by the EU legislator. European Union law introduces legal solutions for the benefit of consumers insofar as the relevant services are not performed by organizers as a consequence of its insolvency. The current 2015/2302 Directive provides much more comprehensive protection than 90/314/EWG Directive for travelers in the event of insolvency of a tour operator. However, in the past, in the practical functioning of travel agencies, it has repeatedly turned out that the Polish legislation has not been able to guarantee full protection provided for in EU law. This situation has changed. In Poland, since August 1, 2018 the system of security and financial guarantees in the event of insolvency of organizers and traders facilitating linked travel arrangements consists of two pillars. If Pillar I funds are exhausted, the costs of actions taken by the Marshal of the Province related to the repatriation of the customers of an insolvent tour operator will be covered from Pillar II, which is created from contributions to the Tourist Guarantee Fund. Due to the COVID pandemic, another form of security was introduced in Poland from January 1,2021 - Tourist Assistance Fund. The fund is designed to support tourism entrepreneurs in the event of extraordinary circumstances. The aim of the paper is to present the legal regulations in force in Poland in the field of financial security of tour operators in the event of their insolvency and to analyze whether these solutions sufficiently protect the interests of travelers. Conclusions included in the paper justify the statement that the extension of the security system by Pillar II make the full protection possible. The two-pillar solution should be sufficient in case of insolvency of a travel agency and that it fully implements the EU recommendations.

The Study of 'Preparation Guidelines' Towards Phetchabun Government Officers and Health Massage Establishments

The purpose of research was to study practices, barriers, and solutions of Phetchabun health massage establishments under COVID-19 situation. Non-participant observation, informal interview, in-depth interview, and participation observation were carried out respectively. Purposive sampling was used with 15 health consumer protection officers in charge;11 district level, 2 provincial level, 2 regional level as well as each representative of 11 districts. Results after implementation of "Preparation Guidelines for Health Spa, Health Massage, and Beauty Massage to Promote Health Tourism During COVID-19 Pandemic" were categorized into two sections. Firstly, the practices, barriers, and solutions of government officer performances included preparation for reopening, monitoring of the provider practices, and performance report. Secondly, the provider operations consisted of doing "Self-Assessment of Health Establishment", logging-in webpage before reopening, and practices for clients included screening and report of patients under investigation, establishment monitor, service, and establishment cleaning. In summary, the preparation guidelines were purposed to reopen their business with numerous contents and messages written by official language, it caused establishment providers and practitioners difficultly understood when applying. LINE Application and making calls were easy and accessible methods for their communication to reach current data and to ensure exact information. Various encouragements and having compliments were also considerable to form trust and confidence among them, they also raised their proud.Copyright © 2023, World Informations Syndicate. All rights reserved.

Strategic Investment Policies for Digital Transformation: The Case of Indonesia

Consumption and production of digital goods and services have increased in Indonesia for the past ten years. A fast-growing e-commerce sector and an increase in digital payments supported the strong growth of the digital economy. Although Internet and digital transactions emerged in the late 1980s, the regulatory framework governing digital activities was only introduced in 2008 with the enactment of the Law on Electronic Information and Transactions. The government of Indonesia has relaxed foreign capital restrictions and provided fiscal incentives for digital businesses. Indonesia has also made commitments related to digital business in recent trade agreements in terms of the mutual recognition of consumer protection and cross-border data transfer. To encourage the use of ICT in public service, Indonesia introduced the 100 Smart City programme and has begun the implementation of electronic-based public service and operation (e-government). The government accelerated digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing the budget allocations for ICT in 2020 and 2021. To further accelerate digital transformation, the government needs to focus on digital literacy, nationwide integrated infrastructure, regulatory and institutional mechanisms and the innovation ecosystem.

REGULATING THE HEALTH SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY DURING THE SPREAD OF COVID 19: LEARNING FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS

Consumers during this spread of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to believe in the concept of "˜prevention is better than cure'. However, the preventive measure adopted varies from the traditional method where the latter resort to consuming healthy food in its original form and the earlier consumes so called healthy supplementary products that has intervention of new technology. Consumers lose clarity in understanding the method, composition, and components of health supplement items as the supplements sector expands with new inventions and advances in technology. This is made worse by deceiving marketing strategies adopted by the producer. The bold act of the producer in claiming that their product may cure serious diseases is not only unethical, but it is also a crime. Government of different jurisdictions adopts various monitoring measure to protect the rights of the consumer. In addressing this issue, this study aims at analysing the legal framework in selected jurisdictions that includes Singapore, Australia and United States of America with a view of identifying the best practices and proposing an effective legal framework. The study uses qualitative methods incorporating critical analysis on the legal framework of the selected jurisdiction. The area that is analysed consist of the accepted definition (to date this has become the main issue in regulating supplementary products), the registration process, the governing authority, and the post-registration monitoring. The analysis of data gathered through qualitative methods entails content analysis, which is supplemented by semi-structured interviews with respondents who were purposefully chosen. The findings to the study disclose the strength and weaknesses of the Malaysian legal framework that can be remedied by learning from the selected jurisdiction method. The output of this study may assist the government, policymaker, industry players and the consumer in reforming the protection of consumers to the supplementary products.

COVID-19 Effect on India's Business Utilizing Online, Blockchain, or AI Algorithms

The COVID-19 illness primarily carried by a Corona viral, commonly known as SARS-CoV-2. The rapid pace of such a drug's growth over six of the seven planets, except South, was already reported. Ever since it appeared, it has caused serious damage for many sectors and didn't harm the luxury goods sector. A major gate as in transition is opened by the epidemic. The COVID-19's effects on the Indian economy are negative. A old company concept needs to evolve to meet the demands of present.Through a clever absorption of internet media, method, & aptitude in any point & activity, the change as in setting of online is witnessed in all areas, i.e., in society, organisation, or in the exactness like an organisation, only in companies, or in the environment. Technology is used in conjunction with industry 4.0 (also known as DX or DT) to generate value for key parties (users in the totality), and to develop and gain the capacity for quickly adapting to situations which are altering.Any item or service may now be marketed but also advertised to customers online thanks to change carried out in a data - driven method, which has done away with the need for external middlemen. A large number of firms are impacted by COVID-19 since it has an impact to the entire globe and causes social estrangement with customers. In light of social distance, a wide range of sectors and businesses will be impacted. In this research, the idea of digitisation is proposed as a projected way through. Social distance may alter the characteristics or the purchasing habits. This study is being done to determine how it COVID-19 problem will affect consumer purchasing habits. By using internet tactics and strategies, consumers are shifting the way that merchandise and services are traditionally purchased. As per research, the digital advertising framework has permeated our imagination for acquiring the ways that are best for selling from several top-performing businesses.Only thing changing in regard of consumer purchase intention following COVID-19 recuperation would be the sales for items, which will mostly stay same with. Consumers will develop the buying habit so as protection, physically or straight from creators. © 2023 IEEE.

A NEW REVERSAL OF FORTUNE? A COMMENTARY ON LABOR IN THE AGE OF FINANCE BY SANFORD M. JACOBY

Corporate governance reform is on the European Union's policy agenda following the publication of a study on "directors' duties and sustainable corporate governance" in July 20204 and a proposal for a directive on corporate sustainability reporting.5 Even the United Kingdom, which has arguably the most shareholder-centric regime of any developed economy, made a move in the same direction, amending its Corporate Governance Code in 2018 to nudge listed companies towards appointing a single worker director,6 although, characteristically for the United Kindgom's model of "gentlemanly capitalism," this remains optional in the final analysis.7 Towards the end of his account, Jacoby makes a reference to the Covid19 pandemic, which was presumably just beginning as the book went to press.8 As the pandemic has unfolded, it has indeed turned out to have implications for the governance of finance, and of labor. From the Enron and Worldcom "scandals," which triggered the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, through to the financial crisis of 2008 and the resulting Dodd-Frank Act, the response to systemic failure in the American corporate governance system was not just halfhearted, which it was in many respects, or beside the point, which it was in others. it was also counter-productive in advancing a supposed cure, shareholder empowerment, which would only exacerbate the disease.15 The British experience has been similar. In the 1960s, concerns over lagging economic competitiveness provided the background to the adoption of the city code on Takeovers and Mergers, which the then Labour government hoped would usher in the modernization of industry.16 In the 1970s, failures in the secondary banking sector prompted another Labour government to makes changes to companies legislation which increased the range of disclosures required of directors.17 In the early 1990s, the Cadbury report on corporate governance was triggered by the insolvencies of several large listed companies, which the system of reports and audits had entirely failed to see coming. During these years, legal and regulatory steps to empower shareholders were given various justifications: as a way of promoting corporate accountability;19 as a means of disciplining self-interested managers;20 and, relatedly, as a mechanism for reducing contracting costs.21 Then there were more ambitious claims: that enhancing shareholder protection would reduce the cost of capital, stimulate innovation, and more generally ensure the most productive use of a society's available resources.22 From the beginnings of the revival of shareholder power and influence in the 1970s, these ideas found intellectual justification in the linked disciplinary fields of corporate finance and the economic analysis of corporate law.

Time for a Tune Up in America's Healthcare Market: Securing the Right to Repair for Medical Devices

Pursuant to a directive of Congress, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a report in May of 2021 examining consumer protection and antitrust issues relating to repair restrictions with a focus on the prevailing practices of mobile phone and auto manufacturers.12 In its report, the FTC identified eight primary methods by which OEMs restrict independent repair and repair by consumers: * Product designs that complicate or prevent repair;* Unavailability of parts and repair information;* Designs that make independent repairs less safe;* Policies or statements that steer consumers to manufacturer repair networks;* Application of patent rights and enforcement of trademarks;* Disparagement of non-OEM parts and independent repair;* Software locks and firmware updates;and * End User License Agreements.13 Software locks, often called digital rights management (DRM) tools or technological protection measures (TPMs), are access controls through which OEMs have throttled independent repairs on a wide range of software-enabled products.14 End-user license agreements (EULAs) are "contracts that users must agree to before using a product or service," which are also known as "click-wrap," "shrink-wrap," or "terms of service" agreements, constituting another major way OEMs restrict repairs.15 In the style of adhesion contracts-inundating consumers with virtually every digital service and software-enabled product they utilize-EULAs often impose post-sale usage, repair, and modification restrictions, granting corporations "unprecedented access to monitor, manage, and restrict how consumers use their products, even going so far as to revoke ownership. B.The Right-to-Repair Movement Today Leading the charge for the right-to-repair movement today is the Repair Association, comprised of notable consumer-rights groups and industry organizations such as the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG),19 the Electronic Frontier Foundation,20 and iFixit,21 along with a variety of other members whose interests align with advancing the right to repair.22 The right-to-repair movement consists of two main, interdependent branches.23 The first is focused on amending the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA),24 an important facet of the federal intellectual property law regime.25 The second branch of the movement is focused on pushing bills through legislatures, mainly at the state level. The Act Protecting Motor Vehicle Owners and Small Businesses in Repairing Motor Vehicles.28 Although limited to automobile repairs, this landmark state law mapped the core provisions of template legislation advanced by the Repair Association for enshrining the right to repair broadly across industries.29 Pursuant to these provisions, the Massachusetts law gave car owners and independent repair shops access to the same manuals, diagnostic software, and diagnostic repair tools provided to licensed dealerships by their respective automobile manufacturers.30 Specifically, the law required motor vehicle manufacturers to "make available for purchase by owners . . . and by independent repair facilities the same diagnostic and repair information" and "all diagnostic repair tools" provided to dealers by OEMs on "fair and reasonable terms. In 2014, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Association of Global Automakers, and two automobile aftermarket industry groups came together to sign a "Memorandum of Understanding" by which the automobile industry nationwide effectively agreed to voluntarily abide by substantively the same provisions of the Massachusetts right-to-repair law.32 Unsurprisingly, the law generated considerable momentum for the right-to-repair movement over the following years, which saw a greatly amplified nationwide effort by advocates pushing for legislation "that would recognize the right to repair consumer electronics-not only smartphones, laptops, and televisions, but also household appliances, wearable technology, farm equipment, and medical devices, to offer just a few examples.

Barriers to Digital Financial Inclusion during Covid-19: A Study Using Integrated Delphi – AHP Framework

The state of Kerala has made remarkable progress in the field of financial inclusion. It was among the first states in India to be identified as a 'Total Banking State'. However, the progress achieved with respect to digital financial inclusion has not been proportionate to the success it achieved in terms of account opening. This is particularly important in the current Covid pandemic and the emphasis on cashless transactions. The current study uses the Delphi - AHP Integrated method to identify, prioritise and rank various barriers to digital financial inclusion in PSBs. Using this, the study develops an index for Digital Financial Inclusion barriers. The findings of the study revealed bank officials prioritised Access related barriers (0.387) highest, followed by Awareness & Knowledge related barriers (0.352) and lastly, Attitude barriers (0.261). Further, the study finds significant variability in the Digital Financial Inclusion Barrier level with respect to gender, age, education, income and SHG membership among customers of PSBs.

Financial regulation in the age of the platform economy

Platform businesses allow for collaboration with nontraditional partners and bring together different categories of customers, in the financial context savers and investors or lenders and borrowers, creating large, scalable networks of users. Their entry into finance promises potential benefits to consumers in the form of new products, lower prices, wider choice, and enhanced consumer experience. At the same time, their new business models and technologies potentially threaten the dominant position of traditional financial services providers and create challenges for regulators. Platform businesses can use their preferential access to customer data to skim off high-quality loans, leaving only low-quality customers for other lenders. Their ability to offer complementary nonfinancial services that cannot be supplied by FinTech start-ups and banks can make it difficult or unattractive for customers to switch to alternative providers. This danger is especially acute when BigTech firms have monopoly power in other markets that complement financial services.

Financial Well-Being in the United States: The Roles of Financial Literacy and Financial Stress

This paper examines the role of financial stress in explaining the relationship between financial literacy and financial well-being among individuals in the United States. The 2018 FINRA National Financial Capability Study dataset is used for the empirical analyses of this study. The results found that financial literacy was positively associated with financial well-being. The study also found that the association between financial literacy and financial well-being was mediated by perceived financial stress experienced by individuals. Additionally, the results from the moderated mediation model showed that while financial stress mediated the association between financial literacy and financial well-being, the association between financial stress and financial well-being was moderated by financial literacy. Financial education was positively associated with financial literacy in this study. The broader implications of the main findings of this study for individuals' sustainable financial well-being are presented for policymakers, financial educators, and financial counselors and planners.

COVID-19: Fear, quackery, false representations and the law.

Fear, anxiety and even paranoia can proliferate during a pandemic. Such conditions, even when subclinical, tend to be a product of personal and predispositional factors, as well as shared cultural influences, including religious, literary, film, and gaming, all of which can lead to emotional and less than rational responses. They can render people vulnerable to engage in implausible conspiracy theories about the causes of illness and governmental responses to it. They can also lead people to give credence to simplistic and unscientific misrepresentations about medications and devices which are claimed to prevent, treat or cure disease. In turn such vulnerability creates predatory opportunities for the unscrupulous. This article notes the eruption of quackery during the 1889-1892 Russian Flu and the 1918-1920 Spanish Flu and the emergence during 2020 of spurious claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies consumer protection strategies and interventions formulated during the 2020 pandemic. Using examples from the United States, Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom, it argues that during a pandemic there is a need for three responses by government to the risks posed by conspiracy theories and false representations: calm, scientifically-based messaging from public health authorities; cease and desist warnings directed toward those making extravagant or inappropriate claims; and the taking of assertive and well publicised legal action against individuals and entities that make false representations in order to protect consumers rendered vulnerable by their emotional responses to the phenomenology of the pandemic.

Energy assistance programs in Ibero-America and their adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic

Ibero-America, a region with high levels of pre-existing poverty, has been considerably affected by the pandemic. Several regulatory measures have been implemented to provide additional financial assistance to the population. Due to the significant fiscal expenditure involved in universal subsidies, several countries have decided to target resources to the most vulnerable sectors. However, the literature focused on these targeted subsidies and beneficiary selection mechanisms is scarce. This article presents a descriptive review of the targeted subsidies implemented in eight Ibero-American countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, the targeting mechanisms, and the modifications made to pre-existing subsidies to adapt them to the health crisis. The research was conducted with the support of regulators from the countries studied and demonstrates that the Ibero-American regulatory response is in line with measures implemented internationally. By showing a catalog of regulatory measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, this article is relevant for policymakers to face future health crises and any scenario that forces the population to be confined in their homes, including extreme weather events. © 2023 The Author(s)

Antecedents of obesity among Indian youth: from consumer psychological and lifestyle perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine the antecedents of obesity among the younger generation of Indians (Generation Y) from a psychological and lifestyle consumer perspective. The study also investigates the moderating role of demography on the body mass index (BMI) of Indian youths.Design/methodology/approachThe study initially develops a conceptual model, stemming from an extensive theoretical research, and subsequently validates this using structural equation modeling (SEM) technique with a sample size of 1,242 Indian youths.FindingsThe study concludes that consumers' food habits (FH) and physical activity (PA) positively impact consumers' physical health (PH), which influences their BMI levels (BLs). Anxiety (AX), depression (DE), stress (ST), peer pressure (PP) and work pressure (WP) impact individuals' mental health (MH), which also influences their BLs. Finally, there is a significant moderating impact of demographic factors, such as age (AG), gender (GE) and income levels (ILs) on the relationship between individuals' physical and MH and individuals' BLs.Research limitations/implicationsThis study proposes a new model which highlights the issue of youth consumer obesity from the psychological and lifestyle perspectives. The model is effective as it has a high explanative power of 73%. The study investigates consumer obesity from emerging market like India perspective, but the study does not examine consumer food consumption behavior and obesity from developed market perspective.Practical implicationsYouth obesity could be considered a global pandemic, and obesity rates among the Indian youth are also increasing. This study provides valuable inputs and understanding of consumer markets to policy makers, consumer protection institutions, organizations related to the food and beverage industry, healthcare workers and consumers themselves regarding the antecedents of youth obesity (BL) in developing and emerging markets.Originality/valueThe study adds value to the body of literature related to consumer obesity, FH, consumer psychology and lifestyle through findings that are new in terms of findings' specificity, contextual focus and explication. Moreover, the study extends the cognitive theory of DE and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The research effectively offers significant theoretical and practicable market knowledge to both scholars and marketing practitioners, as well as policy makers and institutions dealing with youth obesity, particularly in emerging markets.

Intention to consume halal pharmaceutical products: evidence from Indonesia

PurposeDespite the importance of pharmaceutical products in everyday life, particularly after the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020, only a few studies have attempted to analyse consumer behaviour with regard to halal pharmaceutical products. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing purchase intention for halal pharmaceutical products among Indonesian Muslims.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a theory of planned behaviour approach, in which religiosity and knowledge of halal product variables are added to attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control variables. Primary data were collected from 225 Indonesian Muslims in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia and analysed using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe study found that the intention to purchase halal pharmaceutical products is positively affected by attitude, religiosity, knowledge of halal products and perceived behavioural control. However, the influence of the subjective norm variable was found to be insignificant in this study.Research limitations/implicationsIt is possible to improve the empirical model by including more explanatory variables and investigating the mediating effect of the variables. The study could also be scaled up to reach more respondents in different regions and countries. These additional aspects would provide better insights into the behaviour of consumers when considering halal pharmaceutical products.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest the importance of designing and implementing appropriate strategies and campaigns to enhance knowledge of halal products, of positive attitudes and of better resources/opportunities to consume halal pharmaceutical products. The industry needs to highlight its products' halal and tayyib aspects through proper branding and promotion strategies. The government and other stakeholders could also implement education campaigns to increase halal products and halal literacy knowledge. These are ultimately expected to enhance the effectiveness of halal regulations and meet Muslim consumer expectations in the country.Originality/valueDespite the importance of halal pharmaceutical products, this area has received limited attention in the academic literature. Thus, this study attempts to elaborate on consumer behaviour in this niche area.

Energy assistance programs in Ibero-America and their adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic

Ibero-America, a region with high levels of pre-existing poverty, has been considerably affected by the pandemic. Several regulatory measures have been implemented to provide additional financial assistance to the population. Due to the significant fiscal expenditure involved in universal subsidies, several countries have decided to target resources to the most vulnerable sectors. However, the literature focused on these targeted subsidies and beneficiary selection mechanisms is scarce. This article presents a descriptive review of the targeted subsidies implemented in eight Ibero-American countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, the targeting mechanisms, and the modifications made to pre-existing subsidies to adapt them to the health crisis. The research was conducted with the support of regulators from the countries studied and demonstrates that the Ibero-American regulatory response is in line with measures implemented internationally. By showing a catalog of regulatory measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, this article is relevant for policymakers to face future health crises and any scenario that forces the population to be confined in their homes, including extreme weather events.

IMPACT OF THE CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES (COVID-19 PANDEMIC) ON THE POSITION OF CONSUMERS IN PACKAGE TRAVEL CONTRACTS

It is a well-known fact that tourism as an industry makes an extremely large contribution to the Croatian economy. In tourist traffic, the most frequent type of travel, travel is organized under holidays package travel contracts. One of the issues that have become extremely topical in the last few years, due to the situation of the Covid-19 outbreak, is the question of the impact of the changed circumstances on the possibility and conditions of termination of package travel contracts and the rights and obligations arising from such method of termination of the contract for the contracting parties. Due to the importance of this issue, the legal provisions of the Law on the Provision of Services in Tourism have also been amended, which stipulates special conditions related to the termination of the contract and the issuance of vouchers under the conditions of the specific circumstances caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, relating to outstanding package travel contracts, which were to be implemented after 1st of March 2020. The legalframework of the provision ofpackage services, impact of the changed circumstances on the possibility and conditions of termination of package travel contracts as well as the legal consequences of the termination of the contract, as the topics of this paper, are all of great importance both for the providers of these services, namely travel agents, as well as users of these services - passengers (consumers).

Changes in dispensing of anti-osteoporotic drugs during COVID-19 pandemic

Care of osteoporosis patients during COVID-19 pandemic is challenging. Due to lockdowns and restrictions, the management of osteoporosis has changed. Diagnosis of osteoporosis decreased and the influence of COVID-19 on drug prescriptions and dispensing is currently unclear. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the dispensing of anti-osteoporotic drugs during the Covid19 pandemic. Methods This study was a nationwide retrospective register-based observational study which included all patients in Austria aged >= 50 who received at least one prescription for anti-osteoporotic drug between January 2016 and November 2020. Pseudonymized individual-level patients' data were obtained from social insurance authorities and the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection in Austria. Anti-osteoporotic agents were divided into: (i) oral bisphosphonates, (ii) intravenous bisphosphonates, (iii) selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), (iv) teriparatide (TPTD) and (v) Denosumab (DMAB). We used interrupted time series analysis with autoregressive integrated moving average models (ARIMA) for the prediction of drug dispensing. Results There were 2,884,627 dispensing of anti-osteoporotic drugs by 318,573 patients between 2016-2020. The mean monthly prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates (-14.5 %) and SERMs (-12.9 %) decreased during COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the non-COVID-19 period. The dispensing for intravenous bisphosphonates (1.7 %) and teriparatide (9.5 %) increased during COVID- 19. The prescriptions for DMAB decreased during the first lock-down in March and April 2020 (24 %), however increased by 29.1 % for the total observation time. The ARIMA model for alendronate showed, that the estimated step change was minus 1443 dispensing (95 % CI - 2870 to - 17), while the estimated change in slope was minus 29 dispensing per month (95 % CI - 327 to 270). Thus, there were 1472 (1443 + 29) fewer dispensing in March 2020 than predicted had the lockdown not occurred. Discussion The total number of prescriptions dispensed to patients treated with anti-osteoporotic medications declined rapidly during the first COVID-19 lockdown. The largest drops in absolute terms were observed for ibandronate, followed by alendronate, denosumab, zolendronic acid and risendronate. The observed decrease of DMAB during the first lockdown, was compensated in the following months. Current evidence suggests no need for discontinuation of anti-osteoporotic drugs during COVID-19 pandemic, nor because of vaccination. Taking into account the massive treatment gap for osteoporosis, and the related fracture risk, clinicians should continue treatment, even in times of pandemics.

Vulnerabilizing invulnerable: pandemic and the consumption of affluent elderly

A vulnerabilidade do consumidor é uma condiçâo de desequilibrio na relaçâo consumidor-mercado que leva o consumidor a perder o controle nessa relaçâo;e a pandemia da COVID-19 é um evento externo que tem contribuido para este desequilibrio. O artigo explica de que maneira o consumidor vive a experiencia da vulnerabilidade percebida na pandemia;e o papel do consumo para lidar com os efeitos dessa vulnerabilidade. Nós estudamos o consumidor idoso aposentado, com saúde e capital cultural para realizar seus planos através de pesquisa interpretativista, usando entrevistas em profundidade com 31 idosos brasileros, e outras fontes, como: memes, artigos jornalísticos e propagandas. Encontramos um evento externo que tornou consumidores idosos vulneráveis apenas pela idade, consumidores esses que nao se consideravam vulneráveis antes da pandemia. Adicionalmente, o consumo revelou ser urna estrategia para lidar com as consequendas da vulnerabilidade, e a resposta do mercado á pandemia ajudou a devolver a sensaçâo de invulnerabilidade desses consumidores.Alternate :La vulnerabilidad del consumidor es una condición de desequilibrio en la relación consumidor-mercado, que hace que los consumidores pierdan el control en esa relación. La pandemia de COVID-19 es un evento externo que ha contribuido a este desequilibrio. El artículo explica cómo los consumidores experimentan la vulnerabilidad percibida en la pandemia y el papel del consumo para hacer frente a los efectos de dicha vulnerabilidad. Estudiamos a los adultos mayores adinerados jubilados, con salud y con capital cultural para llevara cabo sus planes. La investigación interpretativa se realizó a través de entrevistas en profundidad a 31 adultos mayores ricos brasileños, y también se recopilaron otras fuentes como memes, artículos periodísticos y anuncios. Descubrimos que el evento externo hizo vulnerables a los consumidores ancianos solo debido a la edad y que dichos consumidores no se consideraban vulnerables antes de la pandemia. Además, el consumo se reveló como parte de la estrategia para enfrentar las consecuencias de la vulnerabilidad, y la respuesta del mercado a la pandemia ayudó a devolver la sensación de invulnerabilidad de esos consumidores.Alternate :Consumer vulnerability is a condition that imbalances the consumer-market relationship, causing consumers to lose control ofthat relationship. The COVID-19 pandemic is an external event that has contributed to this imbalance. This article explains how consumers experience the vulnerability perceived during the pandemic and the role of consumption in dealing with the effects of such vulnerability. We study retired affluent consumers with health and cultural capital to carry out their plans. Interpretative research was conducted through in-depth interviews with 31 Brazilian affluent older people, and other sources were collected, such as memes, journalistic articles, and advertisements. We found that the external event made elderly vulnerable consumers only because of their age. These consumers did not perceive themselves as vulnerable before the pandemic. Also, consumption was revealed as part of the strategy to deal with the consequences of vulnerability, and the market response helped this population resume their feeling of invulnerability.

Regulating Borrower Hardship in Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong: Payment Holidays During COVID-19 and Beyond.

Borrower hardship, while a critical issue, is not often addressed by consumer protection frameworks across the Asia-Pacific. The widespread use of payment holidays during the COVID-19 crisis provides a significant case study on the importance of having borrower hardship provisions as a consumer protection tool. This paper compares the pre-pandemic availability of payment holidays in three Asia-Pacific jurisdictions: Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. It evaluates their existing legislative frameworks, as well as regulatory and industry guidelines on borrower hardship, and contrasts this with their use of payment holidays during the pandemic. Where there were existing industry guidelines on borrower hardship, lenders were able to spearhead an industry-wide approach towards payment relief without regulatory intervention by governments. Beyond the pandemic, the paper argues that self-regulation has potential for protecting borrower interests by standardising the scope of, and the procedure for, obtaining hardship relief. It argues that there is a need for a greater prevalence of industry codes of conducts governing lenders' approach towards borrower hardship across the Asia-Pacific.

Demarcating the Privacy Issues of Aarogya Setu App in Covid-19 Pandemic in India: An Exploration into Contact Tracing Mobile Applications from Elaboration Likelihood Model

Demand for contract tracing applications is significantly increasing as governments across the globe are relying on these mobile apps to help combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. However, while this technology has a potential benefit, there is widespread concern that consumers’ fears around privacy and data protection prevent them from downloading such apps. By focusing on this emerging crisis, in this study, we investigate the potential obstacles imposed by privacy concerns (i.e., the perceived risk of accepting the app permission, the perceived risk of providing the information). This study also investigates the popularity of Aarogya Setu, the Indian government’s COVID-19 app. In doing so, we examine privacy concerns through the theoretical lens of the Elaboration Likelihood Model and explore the download intentions of new users. Using the above dimensions of privacy, we then propose a conceptual framework that depicts the influence of privacy concerns over the download intention of new users. Lastly, this paper provides suggestions to allow the Aarogya Setu to improve its perceived reliability among its users and increase downloads. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.