Q16 - Economist: Currently, many countries rely primarily

[mshinners]

Question Type:
Inference (Fill-In/Most Strongly Completes)

Stimulus Breakdown:
Taxing consumption encourages savings, which is necessary to improving the economy, which is important.

Answer Anticipation:
The chain here is connecting taxing consumption with this important outcome, so the correct answer will almost certainly state that changing from an income tax to a consumption tax is a good idea.

Correct answer:
(D)

Answer choice analysis:
(A) Out of scope. The argument is about taxing income or consumption, not savings/investment.

(B) Degree/reversal. The argument definitely leads to an inference about tax policies and economic growth, but stating the change will be rapid is a step too far. Additionally, the argument sets up savings as a necessary part of improving the economy, not a sufficient part.

(C) Degree. The argument is about many countries, not most (many is closer to some). It's also about focusing on taxing consumption, not doing it exclusively ("alone").

(D) Bingo. While normative language ("should") generally needs equivalent language to back it up, this is the exception. When an argument establishes that something is necessary to achieving a desired outcome, you can make the jump to "should". Additionally, this is a "most" logical completion, so there's room for a little jump.

(E) Degree. "Any country" is stronger than the statements provided. Also, the argument doesn't necessarily want to stop taxing income, just shift the focus to consumption.

Takeaway/Pattern:
"Should" is a red flag in many questions, especially those without "should" language in the stimulus. However, if the argument brings something up as necessary to bring about a desired outcome, it can be inferred that it should be done.

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