Does the conclusion escape you? Has understanding the tone of the passage gotten you down? Get help here.
rte.sushil
Students
 
Posts: 116
Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:31 pm
 

RC problem : local benefits or benefits in any town?

by rte.sushil Sat May 03, 2014 1:36 am

During the 1960s and 1970s, the primary
economic development strategy of local
governments in the United States was to attract
manufacturing industries. Unfortunately, this
strategy was usually implemented at another
community’s expense: many manufacturing facilities
were lured away from their moorings elsewhere
through tax incentives and slick promotional efforts.
Through the transfer of jobs and related revenues
that resulted from this practice, one town’s triumph
could become another town’s tragedy.
In the 1980s the strategy shifted from this
zero-sum game to one called "high-technology
development," in which local governments
competed to attract newly formed high-technology
manufacturing firms. Although this approach was
preferable to victimizing other geographical areas
by taking their jobs, it also had its shortcomings:
high-tech manufacturing firms employ only a
specially trained fraction of the manufacturing
workforce, and there simply are not enough
high-tech firms to satisfy all geographic areas.
Recently, local governments have increasingly
come to recognize the advantages of yet a third
strategy: the promotion of homegrown small
businesses. Small indigenous businesses are
created by a nearly ubiquitous resource, local
entrepreneurs. With roots in their communities,
these individuals are less likely to be enticed away
by incentives offered by another community.
Indigenous industry and talent are kept at home,
creating an environment that both provides jobs
and fosters further entrepreneurship.




The passage suggests which of the following about
the majority of United States manufacturing industries
before the high-technology development era of the
1980s?
(A) They lost many of their most innovative
personnel to small entrepreneurial enterprises.
(B) They experienced a major decline in profits
during the 1960s and 1970s.
(C) They could provide real economic benefits to the
areas in which they were located.
(D) They employed workers who had no specialized
skills.
(E) They actively interfered with local
entrepreneurial ventures.

Correct answer : C

My doubt:
According to the passage it is mentioned that jobs can be transferred any where , not necessarily "areas in which they are located".

Please help me to understand how can i understand that they could provide benefits to areas in which they are located.

Thanks!
rte.sushil
Students
 
Posts: 116
Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:31 pm
 

Re: RC problem : local benefits or benefits in any town?

by rte.sushil Sat May 03, 2014 1:41 am

few words that help me to think that jobs are transferred anywhere
1.) manufacturing facilities were lured away from their moorings elsewhere (their means here local governments who are trying to attract manufacturing firms)
2.) zero sum game:
3.) one town's triumph could become another town's tragedy
4.) victimizing other geographical areas by taking their jobs

So should i say that C is best answer among all so i should choose C. Even though C is not best answer as per statements mentioned in passage.
RonPurewal
Students
 
Posts: 19744
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:23 am
 

Re: RC problem : local benefits or benefits in any town?

by RonPurewal Sun May 04, 2014 1:13 pm

If a "tragedy" directly results when something is moved away from somewhere, then that thing must have had benefits while it was still there.
So, choice C is an absolute certainty.