Final answer:
Consumer programs provide several benefits including helping prosecute companies for selling unsafe products and aiding consumers in identifying reliable product reviews. They uphold market safety and consumer trust through various regulatory and informative actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The benefits of consumer programs include their ability to prosecute companies that sell unsafe products to consumers (1), and also to assist consumers by enabling them to identify the best product reviews from various sources (4). These consumer programs, such as the Consumer Products Safety Commission, help ensure products on the market meet certain safety standards and provide essential information to consumers, thus maintaining the trust and safety of the marketplace.
While consumer programs are partially funded by taxpayer money, the funding mechanism itself is not inherently a benefit of consumer programs but a means to ensure their operation. As taxpayers are consumers too, indirectly, funding through taxes can still be seen as consumers contributing to these initiatives. However, regarding the issuance of professional licenses (3), this typically pertains more to industry regulation and professional standards rather than direct consumer benefits.
It's critical to remember that the better and less expensive products resulting from well-regulated markets benefit consumers and the economy overall (19), as such regulations like those enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (20) ensure the quality and safety of products, which can lead to consumer satisfaction and trust in the market.