Q15

[lsat2016]

Hi!

Can anyone explain answer choice A? I’m not sure why it’s wrong since the answer choice definitely describes a view that steady state economists hold. Is it wrong because the question is asking what the neoclassical economists would view to be as wrong, but answer choice A is one that they would believe in as well?

[blahsheep]

Can anyone explain answer choice A? I’m not sure why it’s wrong since the answer choice definitely describes a view that steady state economists hold. Is it wrong because the question is asking what the neoclassical economists would view to be as wrong, but answer choice A is one that they would believe in as well?

(A) is correct because limited environmental resources is something steady-state economists believe in (Line 20) and neoclassical economists wouldn't disagree with. According to Lines 30-36, neoclassical economists believe that natural resources, "if depleted, can be replaced by other elements." So they can acknowledge that these resources can be limited ("if depleted"), but they ultimately believe it's not a big obstacle (since other elements, like human-made resources) can replace natural resources.

[maryadkins]

Yes, the wording on this one is tricky. We want something that the neoclassical economists and the steady-state economists AGREE on. Blahsheep nailed it with the line reference: lines 30-36 tell us that the neoclassicists do acknowledge that the environment can be depleted. Steady-state economists definitely believe this, which is why they are so into conservation. As for the others:

(B) is something the neoclassicists would not agree with. See line 7, they do not believe there are any economic constraints.

(C) Again, they would not agree. See line 45 and line 36: they believe in unlimited growth.

(D) see same lines.

(E) see same lines.