In 1988 unemployment in some regions of the United States dropped to t

Question

In 1988 unemployment in some regions of the United States dropped to the lowest rate in ten years, while the rate in other regions reached an all-time high. In 1978 similar conditions led to large migrations of workers from regions with high unemployment to regions with low unemployment. There was, however, significantly less such migration in 1988.

Which of the following, if true about 1988, would contribute most to explaining why there was less migration of workers in 1988 ?

(A) The regions with the lowest unemployment rates had many of the same kinds of industries as those in the regions with high unemployment, but this was not the case in 1978.
(B) In contrast to 1978, the regions with the lowest unemployment rates had the largest number of new jobs, although substantially fewer of the new jobs required retraining.
(C) In contrast to 1978, housing costs in the areas with the lowest unemployment rates were substantially higher than housing costs in other parts of the country.
(D) The unemployment rate in countries outside of the United States was higher than it was ten years before.
(E) Unemployment benefits in the regions of high unemployment were slightly lower than they were ten years earlier in regions of high unemployment.

saumyagupta1602 · Answer

Please provide a detailed solution for this

malamacka · Answer

Basically C tells us that it was too pricey for most to move in 88 to the low unemployment, since housing was hella expensive

shameekv1989 · Answer

In 1988 unemployment in some regions of the United States dropped to the lowest rate in ten years, while the rate in other regions reached an all-time high. In 1978 similar conditions led to large migrations of workers from regions with high unemployment to regions with low unemployment. There was, however, significantly less such migration in 1988.

Which of the following, if true about 1988, would contribute most to explaining why there was less migration of workers in 1988 ?

(A) The regions with the lowest unemployment rates had many of the same kinds of industries as those in the regions with high unemployment, but this was not the case in 1978.  - if true, one would expect more migration. Since similar industries would take up already trained workers  
(B) In contrast to 1978, the regions with the lowest unemployment rates had the largest number of new jobs, although substantially fewer of the new jobs required retraining.  - US would have expected to have new jobs available and these new jobs didn't require much retraining. Again, we would expect many to migrate in such case or US would accept workers. 
(C) In contrast to 1978, housing costs in the areas with the lowest unemployment rates were substantially higher than housing costs in other parts of the country.  - Housing costs are very high in 1988 thus less affordable for the new workers to move into US without a job. That wasn't the case in 1978. Hence a good contender.  
(D) The unemployment rate in countries outside of the United States was higher than it was ten years before.  - This option doesn't help in anyway 
(E) Unemployment benefits in the regions of high unemployment were slightly lower than they were ten years earlier in regions of high unemployment.  - This option doesn't address the migration in anyway. 
 
1988 - US had lowest unemployement rate
 - Other countries had highest unemployment rate

1978 - Large migration from high unemployment to low unemployment rate countries

Therefore, it was expected that large migration would happen into US in 1988 as well but migration was very little. Why?

Answer - C

cathygeorge123 · Answer

Hi  carcass  , I reckon this is a GMAT official question and not a GRE one(as far as I know, GRE does not test CR).

cathygeorge123 · Answer

In 1988 unemployment in some regions of the United States dropped to the lowest rate in ten years, while the rate in other regions reached an all-time high. In 1978 similar conditions led to large migrations of workers from regions with high unemployment to regions with low unemployment. There was, however, significantly less such migration in 1988.

Premise 1988 : Some regions low unemployment rate ....some regions high unemployment rate.
 1978: Large migration from High unemployment region to Low unemployment region 
 So  Migration in 1978 >Migration in 1988. ..Why?

Which of the following, if true about 1988, would contribute most to explaining why there was less migration of workers in 1988 ?

(A) The regions with the lowest unemployment rates had many of the same kinds of industries as those in the regions with high unemployment, but this was not the case in 1978. 
-->Incorrect: So what if the same kinds of industries existed in both regions(low unemployment and high unemployment)? It does not explain the 'less migration'. Even if you had same industries what if the employability of the industries in these regions were different. We do not know anything about this.

(B) In contrast to 1978, the regions with the lowest unemployment rates had the largest number of new jobs, although substantially fewer of the new jobs required retraining.
-->Incorrect: Then why would there be lesser migration in contrast to that of 1978? This would weaken the argument.

(C)  In contrast to 1978, housing costs in the areas with the lowest unemployment rates were substantially higher than housing costs in other parts of the country. 
-->   Correct  : Interesting. We are given a potential reason to why there was less migration to the regions of lower unemployment. What if the housing costs were higher? What if your property rent was an exorbitant amount and you were still employed in that region but received a low wage? Keep (C).

(D) The unemployment rate in countries outside of the United States was higher than it was ten years before.
--> Incorrect: We are not at all concerned about the unemployment rate outside of the U.S. Moreover, the premise does not establish any connection to the world outside the U.S.

(E) Unemployment benefits in the regions of high unemployment were slightly lower than they were ten years earlier in regions of high unemployment.
--> Incorrect: Then why was there less migration? This statement does not strengthen the argument rather weakens it in a way.
An: (C).

AnirudhaS · Answer

I think it weakens.
Let migration take place from B to A
B has high unemployment
Now unemployment benefits in B were slightly lower 10 years earlier
1978: Unemployment benefit of B was £300/month
1988: Unemployment benefit of B was £280/month
So now (in 1988) it completely make sense for people to migrate to A, because unemployment benefits are lower in B. Therefore it is definitely worthwhile for people to migrate to A from B.
So in my opinion, this is an opposite answer.

unraveled · Answer

In 1988 unemployment in some regions of the United States dropped to the lowest rate in ten years, while the rate in other regions reached an all-time high. In 1978 similar conditions led to large migrations of workers from regions with high unemployment to regions with low unemployment. There was, however, significantly less such migration in 1988.

Which of the following, if true about 1988, would contribute most to explaining why there was less migration of workers in 1988 ?

(A) The regions with the lowest unemployment rates had many of the same kinds of industries as those in the regions with high unemployment, but this was not the case in 1978. - WRONG. Many variables are still there that may lead to less migration even if industry-wise the situation was not conducive. May be the regions with high unemployment were most populous whereas low employment ones were less dense. Basically, regions with less employment had let's say 10 industries whereas high unemployment regions were so populous that even after having 100 industries it could not absorb the migration. This situation could be equally opposite, eventually making things more complex.
(B) In contrast to 1978, the regions with the lowest unemployment rates had the largest number of new jobs, although substantially fewer of the new jobs required retraining. - WRONG. Complexities increase with this one.
(C) In contrast to 1978, housing costs in the areas with the lowest unemployment rates were substantially higher than housing costs in other parts of the country. - CORRECT. One of the biggest reasons for people not migrating to other places.
(D) The unemployment rate in countries outside of the United States was higher than it was ten years before. - WRONG. Irrelevant.
(E) Unemployment benefits in the regions of high unemployment were slightly lower than they were ten years earlier in regions of high unemployment. - WRONG. Not at all impacts migration of workers.

Answer C.

HarishKumar · Answer

In 1988 unemployment in some regions of the United States dropped to the lowest rate in ten years, while the rate in other regions reached an all-time high. In 1978 similar conditions led to large migrations of workers from regions with high unemployment to regions with low unemployment. There was, however, significantly less such migration in 1988.

Which of the following, if true about 1988, would contribute most to explaining why there was less migration of workers in 1988 ?

Pre-thinking : Look for a cause that prevented the migration in 1988

(A) The regions with the lowest unemployment rates had many of the same kinds of industries as those in the regions with high unemployment, but this was not the case in 1978.

No. If they had the same kind of industries, then it would lead to migration. 
 
(B) In contrast to 1978, the regions with the lowest unemployment rates had the largest number of new jobs, although substantially fewer of the new jobs required retraining.

No. If it had the largest number of new jobs and fewer of these compared to 1978 required retraining, then that is a strong incentive to migrate. 
 
(C) In contrast to 1978, housing costs in the areas with the lowest unemployment rates were substantially higher than housing costs in other parts of the country.

Yes. If housing costs were substantially higher in 1988, then a higher proportion of any money earned after migration would be used to pay for it, thus acting as a disincentive to migrate.   
 
(D) The unemployment rate in countries outside of the United States was higher than it was ten years before.

No. This is out of scope of the argument. 
 
(E) Unemployment benefits in the regions of high unemployment were slightly lower than they were ten years earlier in regions of high unemployment.

No. This would act as an incentive to migrate in larger numbers in 1988 compared to 1978.

In 1988 unemployment in some regions of the United States dropped to t

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In 1988 unemployment in some regions of the United States dropped to t

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615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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