Politician: We should impose a tariff on imported fruit to make it cost consumers more than domestic fruit. Otherwis...

Naz on December 8, 2014

The politician recommends that we impose a tariff on imported fruit, even though it is grown better and is cheaper, because imported fruit "will put domestic fruit growers out of business."

Thus, the politician is prioritizing the domestic growers and maintaining their "unique way of life" over better quality fruit that is less expensive.

Therefore, the politician's recommendation most closely conforms to answer choice (C): "Social concerns should sometimes take precedence over economic efficiency."

Hope that clears things up! Please let us know if you have any other questions.

erojas on January 15, 2018

Could you explain why B is incorrect since the politician seems concerned with the producers' interest over the consumers' interests?

Mehran on January 15, 2018

Hi @erojas, thanks for your post. One problem with (B) is that the word "producers" is not limited to fruit producers - it could just as easily refer to industrial producers, could it not? If so, then the principle in (B) does not necessarily relate to the conclusion of the argument in the stimulus.

By contrast, answer choice (C) is a principle with which the stimulus does conform. If it is true that social concerns should sometimes take precedence over economic efficiency, then the politician's conclusion (that we should impose a tax on imported fruit) is justified (because such a tax would prevent the conversion of farmland to more lucrative industrial uses, even though foreign growers can grow better fruit more cheaply).

Hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

Gabrielaurr on September 18, 2019

Please explain why A is wrong

Irina on September 19, 2019

@gabrielaurr,

The issue with (A) is that politician's reasoning is not driven by economic considerations - he is not saying we should impose tariffs because it is economically efficient or would result in lower prices for the consumers, rather he argues tariffs are necessary to preserve a unique way of life. This is a social driver, not an economic one, hence economic interests of one's country versus other countries are irrelevant.

Let me know if you have any further questions.