GMAT考试写作指导：Issue写作范文八四

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84.         Requiring businesses to provide complete product information to customers
promotes various consumer interests, but at the same time imposes burdens on
' P  b% G& m  _' O! A' s* D. \* lbusinesses, government, and taxpayers. On balance, the burdens outweigh the benefits,
: Q! F* a. g' S% qat least in most cases.
      A threshold problem with disclosure requirements is that of determining what
5 r  a  u, T# N8 S9 K2 econstitutes "complete" information. Admittedly, legislating disclosure requirements
clarifies the duties of business and the rights of consumers. Yet determining what
6 V' m7 o% x5 D0 c# Qrequirements are fair in all cases is problematic. Should it suffice to list ingredients,
instructions, and intended uses, or should customers also be informed of precise
specifications, potential risks, and results of tests measuring a product's effectiveness
vis-a-vis competing products? A closely related problem is that determining and
enforcing disclosure standards necessarily involves government regulation, thereby
5 b1 `  B4 C, Q) x; s( Zadding to the ultimate cost to the consumer by way of higher taxes. Finally, failure to
7 t/ o# f4 ?; {9 N4 ~comply may result in regulatory fines, a cost that may either have a chilling effect on
. N% @. {7 G, U: ?8 |7 rproduct innovation or be passed on to the customers in the form of higher prices. Either
result operates to the detriment of the consumer, the very party whom the regulations
7 }' W! l; X, a& H2 h8 rare designed to protect.
5 L! c' w* c3 s+ p      These burdens must be weighed against the interest in protecting consumers
against fraud and undue health and safety hazards. To assume that businesses will
voluntarily disclose negative product information ignores the fact that businesses are
# u# D- k' o% Jmotivated by profit, not by public interest concerns. However, consumers today have
$ A9 F8 y; A9 _ready access to many consumer-protection resources, and may not need the protection
( u$ ~7 g( n8 {, Sof government regulation. Although health and safety concerns are especially
. ?7 |6 y; q0 Vcompelling in the case of products that are inherently dangerous—power tools,
4 A1 e. O& l7 o" d0 `recreational equipment, and the like—or new and relatively untested products,
especially pharmaceuticals, narrow exceptions can always be carved out for these
products.
; m. D  `% E2 a      In conclusion, while stringent disclosure requirements may be appropriate for
! w/ w: x# s' `& ]( |5 X; Q2 Lcertain products, businesses and consumers alike are generally better off without the
burdens imposed by requiring that businesses provide complete product information to
all customers.