The Subscription Trap Economy

The subscription trap economy describes a structural market condition in which recurring-revenue businesses systematically exploit consumer behavioral vulnerabilities through dark-pattern interface design, asymmetric information disclosure, and deliberately obstructed cancellation mechanisms. This paper examines the economic foundations, behavioral mechanisms, documented consumer harm, and regulatory responses constituting this phenomenon. Methodologically, the study employs systematic document analysis of regulatory enforcement records, large-sample consumer surveys, and peer-reviewed behavioral economics literature. The global subscription economy reached an estimated USD 492–593 billion in transaction value in 2024, projected to approach USD 1 trillion by 2028.