StrivingTurtle
One feature of the global food economy is the simultaneous import and export of the same items, a phenomenon
known as “redundant trade.” In California, for example, domestic cherries are exported to Canada and Japan,
while a nearly equivalent number of cherries are imported from Chile, Italy, and Germany. California also exports
and imports nearly identical amounts of lettuce and almonds. Although shipping fresh fruits and vegetables is an
expensive undertaking, there is a justifiable economic rationale for redundant trade.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the conclusion above?
• Establishing international ties through trade facilitates access to other desired goods that are more efficiently produced abroad.
• Undertaking free trade with one’s political allies helps to maintain international goodwill.
• In recent years, consumers in California boycotted domestic cherries, demanding better working conditions for agricultural laborers in the state.
• Local growers could sell their products at a premium in domestic markets.
• The economic globalization of redundant trade allows for the sharing of cultural norms and values.
Hi Turtle,
The conclusion asks for a justifiable
economic rationale behind "redundant trade". So, you can easily eliminate the answer choices that present a non-economic rationale. (B), (C) and (E) present a non-economic rationale for conducting "redundant trade"
(B) Undertaking free trade with one’s political allies helps to maintain international goodwill.
International good will is not an economic benefit that a county can derive from "redundant trade". So, this will not strengthen our conclusion.
(C) In recent years, consumers in California boycotted domestic cherries, demanding better working conditions for agricultural laborers in the state.
This choice presents an issue of betterment of working conditions for agricultural laborers. Another non economic reason, betterment of conditions would be a more of an ethical issue than a economic issue.(E) The economic globalization of redundant trade allows for the sharing of cultural norms and values.
This choice is a clear non-economic rationale, thus incorrect. In fact it is a cultural rationale.(D) Local growers could sell their products at a premium in domestic markets.
This is an economic reason, so we can not reject this choice straight away. (D) is the most difficult to prove incorrect of all the incorrect answer choices. If local growers could sell their products at a higher price in domestic markets, then it means that they will get a lower price in foreign markets. Therefore "redundant trade" will not be so viable economically. In fact, (D) could easily be the answer to the question stem which asks for a "justifiable reason not to practice redundant trade" (A) Establishing international ties through trade facilitates access to other desired goods that are more efficiently produced abroad.
Quote:
facilitates access to goods that are more efficiently produced abroad. Now just because they are produced efficiently, there is no guarantee that importing them will be cheaper. What if the transportation costs are prohibitive? What if the import duty is obscene?
When you say - "What if the transportation costs are prohibitive?" and "What if the import duty is obscene?", you are making additional assumptions. By this way we can make any choice a strengthener or a weakener
Note: While strengthening or weakening the argument you should prove that a choice is correct/ incorrect without making any additional assumptionsUsing this logic, one could say that (E) is correct because, What if sharing cultural norms and values prevents war between countries, saving them lot of money, thus an economic rationale. But, this is not correct; we have made an extra assumption that "sharing cultural norms and values prevents war between countries".Therefore, (A) is correct because it gives an economic rationale for using "redundant trade". Notice that we can prove this without making any additional assumptions.I hope this clears your doubt,
Vercules