avi1787 wrote:
Corporate Spokesperson: There has been much ado about the lack of global corporate responsibility, but most of the harm done was incidental: corporations were in the historically unprecedented position of having substantial wealth and reach without having any of the obligations of the traditional state. This will soon change, however, as more than 50 international corporations this year enjoyed sales in excess of the GDP of 60% of the world’s countries.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the spokesperson’s argument?
A. Enjoying financial resources equal to or greater than those of the traditional sovereign state does not necessarily entail an acceptance of the obligations traditionally accepted by such a state.
B. Corporate revenue and influence is expected to increase in the years to come.
C. Many corporations are among the world’s top employers.
D. Many corporations are among the world’s top polluters.
E. Most of the 50 corporations mentioned are expected to see significant decreases in sales as a result of a recent international recession.
There has been much ado about the lack of global corporate responsibility
More than 50 international corporations this year enjoyed sales in excess of the GDP of 60% of the world’s countries.
Conclusion: Global corporates will take responsibility now.
We need to weaken the conclusion. The author is saying that since the sales of 50 corporates was more than GDP of 60% of countries, corporates will take responsibility now. But what if corporates do not accept the obligations of the state just because their sales is higher than GDP of the country? Then the corporates may not take responsibility.
A. Enjoying financial resources equal to or greater than those of the traditional sovereign state does not necessarily entail an acceptance of the obligations traditionally accepted by such a state.
Correct. If more resources than the state does not entail acceptance of the obligations accepted by the state, then the corporations may not take responsibility and hence lack of global corporate responsibility may continue.
B. Corporate revenue and influence is expected to increase in the years to come.
What will happen in years to come is irrelevant. If corporate revenue increases in future, we would hope that corporates will take even more responsibility.
C. Many corporations are among the world’s top employers.
Irrelevant
D. Many corporations are among the world’s top polluters.
Irrelevant
E. Most of the 50 corporations mentioned are expected to see significant decreases in sales as a result of a recent international recession.
Doesn't matter. Again, what happens in future is irrelevant. If corporates see decrease in revenue, GDP may decrease too due to recession. So corporates may still make more than the GDP. In any case, we are talking about the current status and the possibility of corporates taking up responsibility.
Answer (A)
but from the prompt can we deduce that the financial resources are equal to or greater than that of the govt? do't we have to make so many assumption to reach to this conclusion?