Final answer:
A flexible work arrangement in the context given is best represented by a teaching assistant who works only during the academic year. This type of arrangement allows for adjustments in the work schedule to align with personal preferences or external circumstances, reflecting a more elastic labor supply curve.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the options provided, option c) A teaching assistant works only during the academic year from August through May would be considered a flexible work arrangement. This is because the teaching assistant's work schedule is adapted to the academic calendar, providing a clear example of flexibility in terms of work commitment over a year. Most full-time workers tend to have fixed hours regardless of changes in wages, rendering their labor supply curve inelastic. In contrast, part-time, flexible, and young workers often show elasticity in their working hours, willing to adjust them based on wage fluctuations.
Option b) represents a shifting schedule but is nonetheless structured and determined by employer needs, which contrasts with personal flexibility. Option e) involves part-time work but doesn't necessarily indicate flexibility in schedule arrangement. The outlier option providing little to no flexibility is option a), where a worker's departure time is tied to production quotas rather than personal preference or a mutually agreed-upon flexible schedule.