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| The Consumer in Today's World | |
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| An Economic Foundation for Consumer Decisions | |
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| Scarcity | |
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| The Necessity of Choice | |
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| Demand and Supply Analysis--A Brief Introduction | |
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| Consumer Sovereignty in a Market Economy | |
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| The Real World of Imperfect Competition | |
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| Americans in an Electronic Market | |
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| New Technology--New Responsibilities | |
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| Consumer Economics in an Electronic Economy | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Being an Ethical Consumer | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Making Rational Consumer Choices | |
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| Decisions, Decisions | |
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| Rational Consumer Decision Making | |
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| Values and Rational Decision Making | |
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| The Decision-Making Process | |
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| Pitfalls in Rational Consumer Decision Making | |
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| Time Management and Rational Decision Making | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: How to Buy Technology-Based Products | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| A Flood of Advertising | |
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| Costs and Benefits of Advertising | |
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| Brand-Name Advertising | |
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| Other Types of Advertising | |
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| The Ugly Side of Advertising | |
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| Advertising and Your Privacy | |
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| Your Telemarketing Rights | |
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| Privately Prepared Information | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Rational Internet Shopping | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| The Many Faces of Fraud | |
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| Consumer Products Fraud | |
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| Steps to Take to Protect Yourself | |
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| Internet Fraud | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: The Dangers of Identity Theft | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Protection for the Consumer | |
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| Sources of Consumer Protection | |
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| Consumer Responsibilities | |
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| Enforcement of Federal Consumer Protection Laws | |
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| State and Local Governments and Consumer Protection | |
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| Using Small Claims Courts | |
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| Sources of Private-Sector Consumer Protection | |
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| Private Industry's Self-Regulation | |
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| Warranties and Consumer Protection | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Finding Help for Consumer Problems | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions For Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Budgeting | |
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| The Consumer as a Wage Earner | |
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| Investment in Human Capital | |
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| Occupational Wage Differentials | |
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| The Problem of Inflation | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Choosing the Right Career | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Creating a Living Budget | |
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| Consumers Need a Spending Plan | |
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| Budget Making, Goals, and Values Clarification | |
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| How Does the Typical Household Allocate Its Income? | |
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| Creating a Budget Plan | |
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| Reviewing Your Budget | |
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| Fitting It All into a Life-Span Plan | |
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| Budget-Assistance Programs | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Budgeting for Recreation and Leisure | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Paying for the Government | |
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| The Whys and Hows of Taxation | |
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| Personal Federal Income Tax | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Preparing Your Income Tax Return | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Making Consumption Expenditures | |
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| Choosing a Healthful Diet | |
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| Choosing the Food We Eat | |
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| Government Labeling and Inspection Requirements | |
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| Food Labels and the Consumer | |
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| Nutrition | |
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| Food Additives | |
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| Health, Natural, and Organic Foods | |
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| The Growing Trend toward Convenience Food | |
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| Getting the Most for Your Food-Shopping Dollar | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Good Health and Weight Control | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Purchasing Household Products | |
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| Clothing, Happiness, and Budget Considerations | |
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| Indications of Quality | |
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| The Powerful Fashion Industry | |
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| Choosing Durable Goods | |
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| Consumer Durables as an Investment | |
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| Evaluating the Purchase of a Consumer Durable | |
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| Servicing Your Consumer Durables | |
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| The Special Case of Buying Furniture | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Saving Money by Saving Energy | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Satisfying Transportation Needs | |
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| We Depend on Cars in Many Ways | |
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| The Trend toward Safer Automobiles | |
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| The Social Costs of Driving | |
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| The Private Costs of Driving | |
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| Deciding When to Buy | |
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| Deciding What You Want | |
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| Getting the Best Deal on a New Car | |
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| Leasing versus Buying | |
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| Should You Choose a Used Car? | |
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| Final Guidelines for Consumers | |
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| Financing That Purchase | |
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| Know Your Lemon Laws | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Reputable Repairs for Your Car | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Choosing a Place to Live | |
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| Why Are We Willing to Pay So Much? | |
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| Renting versus Buying | |
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| If You Decide to Buy | |
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| Making the Offer | |
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| Title Examination and Insurance | |
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| Different Types of Homes | |
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| Paying for Your Home | |
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| Different Kinds of Mortgages | |
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| Creative Financing | |
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| Mortgage Repayment Terms | |
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| Closing Costs | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Renting a Home | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Financial Management | |
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| Banks Help Consumers Save and Spend | |
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| Why Save at All? | |
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| Where Should You Stash Your Cash? | |
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| How Banks Help Consumers Save | |
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| Saving by Buying Government Securities | |
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| How Banks Help Consumers Spend | |
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| How to Avoid Checking Problems | |
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| How to Settle a Complaint with a Bank | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: How to Use Electronic Banking | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Using Credit Responsibly | |
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| Sources of Credit | |
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| Why Borrow? | |
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| Saving versus Credit Buying | |
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| What It Costs to Borrow | |
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| Consumer Credit Legislation | |
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| Equal Credit Opportunity | |
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| Fair Credit Billing Act | |
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| Fair Credit Reporting Act | |
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| Fair Debt Collection Practices Act | |
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| Subprime Lending | |
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| Predatory Lending | |
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| Going into Personal Bankruptcy | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Making Credit Decisions | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Investing for Your Future | |
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| Some Facts about the Stock Market | |
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| Making Money in the Stock Market | |
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| Mutual Funds | |
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| Is There No Way to Get Rich Quick? | |
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| Watch for Those Sure-Fire Schemes | |
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| Pensions and Retirement Funds | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Making Personal Investment Plans | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Risk Management | |
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| The Health-Care Dilemma | |
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| The Foundation of Insurance--Risk Pooling | |
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| Our Need for Medical Insurance | |
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| The Government Steps In | |
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| The Insurance Framework | |
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| The Supply of Medical Care | |
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| Drug Regulation and Its Costs | |
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| High-Tech Medicine | |
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| The Malpractice System | |
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| Who Can Afford the Medical Bill? | |
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| Health-Care Dilemma--or Crisis? | |
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| Tackling Waste and Inefficiency | |
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| Universal Health-Insurance Coverage | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Purchasing Medical Care | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Insuring Your Home and Your Automobile | |
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| Insuring Your Home | |
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| Automobile Insurance | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Choosing a Lawyer | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Life Insurance and Social Security | |
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| Life Insurance and Our Need for Security | |
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| The Basic Types of Life Insurance | |
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| Some Specialized Insurance Policies | |
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| Reading a Life-Insurance Contract | |
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| Choosing a Sound Life-Insurance Company | |
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| Involuntary Benefit Programs--The Case of Social Security | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: How to Meet Your Insurance Needs | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Lessons You Have Learned | |
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| Looking to the Future | |
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| What the Future Holds | |
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| The Future of Technology | |
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| Globalization of the World Economy | |
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| The Technological Assault on Privacy | |
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| Ethical Choices and the Cost of Medical Technology | |
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| Protecting the Environment Is Everyone's Responsibility | |
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| Confronting Consumer Issues: Living a Green Life | |
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| Chapter Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Questions for Thought & Discussion | |
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| Things to Do | |
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| Internet Resources | |
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| Selected Readings | |
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| Glossary | |
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| Index | |