皖中评 | 提振消费，政府应从“消防员”转为“护航员”

Core Viewpoint - Hefei's introduction of "Prepay Treasure" aims to enhance consumer protection by ensuring prepaid funds are directly deposited into a bank-regulated account, allowing real-time balance and transaction tracking, thus transforming the government's role from a reactive "firefighter" to a proactive "navigator" in building market trust [1][4]. Group 1: Consumer Protection - The "Prepay Treasure" initiative addresses significant risks associated with prepaid consumption models, such as merchants lowering service standards after consumer deposits and engaging in fraudulent practices like sudden business closures [2][3]. - Consumers often face challenges in protecting their rights due to high evidence requirements and execution difficulties, leading to a situation where they bear the risks of merchant defaults [3]. Group 2: Government Role and Innovation - Traditional government intervention in prepaid consumption disputes has been reactive, often resulting in ineffective post-incident mediation, which fails to deter repeat offenders [4]. - The innovative approach of "Prepay Treasure" effectively targets the core consumer concern of merchant insolvency by implementing full deposit custody and transaction-based monitoring, significantly reducing the cost of establishing social trust [4]. Group 3: Economic Implications - Addressing the risks associated with prepaid consumption is crucial for boosting domestic demand and consumer confidence, particularly in essential sectors like dining, fitness, and education [5]. - The "Prepay Treasure" initiative serves as a model for integrating digital governance with consumer protection, suggesting that government roles should evolve to foster a more resilient and trustworthy consumption ecosystem, thereby supporting economic growth [5].