LSAT Explanation PT 28, S1, Q10: It is a principle of economics

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following is an application of the economic principle above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Principle (Misc) question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's understand the passage and the question type. The passage states that a nation can experience economic growth only when consumer confidence is balanced with a small amount of consumer skepticism. The question type is Must Be True (MBT), which means we need to find an answer choice that logically follows from the information in the passage.

Let's represent the passage's logic using formal logic notation:

EG = a nation can experience economic growth

CCB = consumer confidence balanced with a small amount of consumer skepticism

EG -> CCB

Now, let's analyze each answer choice:

a) Any nation in which consumer confidence is balanced with a small amount of consumer skepticism will experience economic growth.

This answer choice is a classic Mistaken Reversal. It reverses the sufficient and necessary conditions from the passage. Just because the necessary condition occurs (CCB) does not guarantee that the sufficient condition (EG) will occur.

b) Any nation in which the prevailing attitude of consumers is not skepticism will experience economic growth.

This answer choice is a version of a Mistaken Reversal. It reverses the terms of the economic principle and tries to equate "prevailing attitude is not skepticism" with "consumer confidence balanced with a small amount of consumer skepticism." The reversal alone is enough to eliminate this answer choice.

c) Any nation in which the prevailing attitude of consumers is either exclusively confidence or exclusively skepticism will experience economic growth.

This answer choice is an Opposite Answer. According to the contrapositive of the economic principle, if a nation does not have balanced consumer confidence, then that nation will not experience economic growth. This answer choice states the opposite by dropping the "not" that should appear before "experience economic growth."

d) Any nation in which the prevailing attitude of consumers is exclusively confidence will not experience economic growth.

This is the correct answer. This answer choice is the contrapositive of the economic principle. It forces you to recognize that the negation of "consumer confidence balanced with a small amount of skepticism" is phrased as "prevailing attitude of consumers is exclusively confidence."

e) Any nation in which consumer skepticism is balanced with a small amount of consumer confidence will experience economic growth.

This answer choice is another version of a Mistaken Reversal. The only difference between this answer choice and answer choice (a) is that this answer plays a Shell Game and reverses the confidence and skepticism elements from the stimulus.

In conclusion, the correct answer is (d) because it is the contrapositive of the economic principle stated in the passage and logically follows from the information provided.