Question

Economist: Every business aims to boost productivity, as it enhances profits and the business's survival prospects. However, not all productivity-increasing efforts benefit the business overall. Often, such efforts result in a reduction of employees, negatively impacting dismissed employees and undermining the security of retained ones.

Which of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the economist’s argument?

A. If an action taken to secure the survival of a business fails to enhance the welfare of the business’s employees, that action cannot be good for the business as a whole.

B. Some measures taken by a business to increase productivity fail to be beneficial to the business as a whole.

C. Only if the employees of a business are also its owners will the interests of the employees and owners coincide, enabling measures that will be beneficial to the business as a whole.

D. There is no business that does not make efforts to increase its productivity.

E. Decreasing the number of employees in a business undermines the sense of security of retained employees.

Answer 1

Option B is the correct answer as it best reflects the economist's argument that although businesses aim to increase productivity for higher profits, some productivity-related measures may not be beneficial to the business as a whole, particularly in terms of employee welfare. Option B

Step-by-step explanation:

The main conclusion in the economist's argument can be understood in light of the broader implications of actions taken to increase productivity on a business as a whole.

While increasing productivity can lead to higher profits, if such efforts result in workforce reductions, this can have negative repercussions for both dismissed and retained employees, counteracting some of the positive effects of productivity gains.

Thus, the most accurate expression of the economist's conclusion is that some measures taken to boost productivity may not benefit the business overall, specifically as they pertain to employee welfare and job security, making option B the correct answer. Option B