This book analyses the history of the common law foundations of consumer law, and encourages readers to rethink the role that consumer law plays in our society.

Consumer law is often constructed as purely statute-based law. However – as this collection will demonstrate – this is far from the truth. Much of the history of the common law concerns consumer transactions and markets. Case law has often established or modified the ground rules of consumer markets, has had a patterning effect on the economic organisation of markets, and has expressed cultural visions of the market and consumers. An analysis of landmark cases of consumer law allows many traditional cases to be viewed through a new and distinct lens, providing significant academic and intellectual value.

The collection also includes a unique socio-legal perspective, considering the role that consumer law has played in addressing racial discrimination, LGBTQ challenges and the rights of women.

This collection of landmark cases demonstrates the theoretical and practical significance of consumer law through a wide range of contributions by distinguished authors from the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States and Australia.

Jodi Gardner is Brian Coote Chair in Private Law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Banking & Finance Law at the National University of Singapore.
Iain Ramsay is Emeritus Professor of Law at Kent Law School, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.