gmataquaguy wrote:
Economist: In the interaction between producers and consumers, the only obligation that all parties have is to act in the best interests of their own side. And distribution of information about product defects is in the best interests of the consumer. So consumers are always obligated to report product defects they discover, while producers are never obligated to reveal them.
Which one of the following is an assumption required by the economist's argument?
A) It is never in the best interests of producers for a producer to reveal a product defeat.
B) No one expects producers to act in a manner counter to their own best interests.
C) Any product defect is likely to be discovered by a consumer than by a producer.
D) A product defect is more likely to be discovered by a consumer than by a producer.
E) The best interests of consumers never coincide with the best interests of producers.
The OA is A. I was torn between A and E and here is why:
Conclusion: So consumers are always obligated to report product defects they discover, while producers are never obligated to reveal them.
Question Type: Assumption.
Solution: Negate the AC and see if the conclusion still holds true.
Negate AC A: It is always [opposite of
never, hence the negation] in the best interest of the producers for a producer to reveal a product defect.
If AC A is true, will the conclusion still hold? No. Details below:
If "it is always in the best interests of producers for a producer to reveal a product defect" then the conclusion portion "while producers are never obligated to reveal them" breaks down.
Let me do the same with E
Negate AC E: The interests of consumers always [opposite of
never, hence the negation] coincides with the best interests of producers.
If AC E is true, will the conclusion still hold? No. Details below:
If "the best interests of consumers always coincide with the best interests of producers" then the conclusion "So consumers are always obligated to report product defects they discover, while producers are never obligated to reveal them" will not hold because "while producers are never obligated" breaks down.
Why because best interests of consumers = best interest of producers. So if best interest of consumer equates to reveal product defects & best interest of consumers = best interest of producers then the portion of the conclusion "producers are never obligated to reveal them" BREAKS DOWN.
So where is the fallicy in this reasoning? Please help