Ethics problem

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONSUMER INTEREST AND PUBLIC INTEREST

POINT OF DIFFERENCE	CONSUMER INTEREST	PUBLIC INTEREST
Meaning	The areas in which the consumers as a whole are benefitted is called consumer interest.	The areas in which the “society as a whole” has some interest is called public interest.
Members	Consumer is a member of a broad class of people who purchase, use, maintain & dispose of product & services.	Society is a collection of subsystems, e.g. consumers, manufacturers, distributors, input suppliers, service providers, etc.
Factors	Consumers are affected by pricing policies, financing practices, quality of goods & services and various trade practices.	Public interest reflects the morals during period & also the established interest of the society.
Scope	Consumer interest is restricted in scope as it is only a sub-system of a larger system i.e. general public/society.	Public interest is wider in scope in comparison to consumer interest.
Examples	Formulation of Competition Act, Regulation of Consumer Protection Councils, Consumer Courts etc.	Maintenance of Law & Order, Providing for Defence of the country etc.