Is there a balance of power between consumer, producer an government or is one of these groups more powerful?

Answer 1

you're missing one element - Tort Lawyers.

Lawsuits, the threat of them, the work required to prevent them, and the outright discontinuation of products and entire companies has an enormous impact on the economy, price of goods, and availability of goods.
However, I would still say that producers have the most power in a capitalist system because government officials can be bribed or are even part of the machine.
Consumers have the least power, because we have to pay the cost of regulation, taxes, tort overhead, R&D, on top of the cost to produce, market, and deliver it. If there is ample competition for the goods or services, the price goes down, but once that happens, it's considered a commodity and is then produced in a third world sweat shop.

Answer 2

Levels:
1. Government
2. Consumer
3. Producer.

Government because it can capture/sieze/prevent any consumer or producer through the huge resources they have at their disposal.

Consumer is stronger than the producer, as producers need to meet consumer demand. If producers make products that consumers won't buy, they won't be in business for very long.

Answer 3

globalisation of capital, technology and labour means the producer holds the reigns, unbonded by regulations and nation states. Increasingly the state is relinquishing all controls over the producers in the name of being competitive, attracting business investment, free trade all that rhetoric. And the catch with being a consumer is that they are economically the exploited masses as WELL as Gods of their government. Depending on the regime affects how badly the consumer is trampled.

Answer 4

The government is powerful that the consumer and producer because it controls the market through legislations and implementation of laws.

Answer 5

government is more powerful,, but also in the case of the current government,, Bush and all his men are corrupt,,, their liars,,, you can't believe anything they say,, the department of justice and Attorney General Gondolas lied,, Cheney lies,, Scooter lies,, Rove lies,, we have to depend on Congress to get the bums out,,
Nancy Pelosi can be interim president until the 2008 elections ,,,,, ,IMPEACH BUSH-CHENEY,,,
throw out Rove,, and Gonzales,,
we need responsible leaders,,,

Answer 6

Not at all. The consumer is on the bottom of that totem pole...