Final answer:
Economists argue that mandating infant seats, which would increase travel costs, may lead to more families driving instead of flying; driving is riskier than flying, which could ultimately raise infant fatalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The economists' argument that requiring infant seats for children under age 2 on flights, thereby necessitating the purchase of additional tickets, might actually increase infant fatalities is based on the principles of cost-benefit analysis and consumer behavior. The rationale is that if parents are required to purchase an additional airline seat for their young children, the increased expense may lead some families to opt for alternative transportation methods such as driving. Driving has a higher statistical risk of accidents and fatalities than flying. Hence, while airline travel might become safer for infants with the mandate of special infant seats, the overall infant fatalities might increase due to a shift towards more dangerous modes of transportation by families looking to save on costs.
The airline industry has experienced significant changes since deregulation, which reduced airfares and resulted in fuller flights and the development of the hub-and-spoke system. This increased efficiency and service have made airline travel more accessible. Consequently, more stringent infant safety regulations, by affecting the cost of air travel for families, could inadvertently lead to less air travel and more reliance on less safe transportation alternatives, thus potentially raising the overall risk to infant safety.