Logical Reasoning

PT121 · S4 · Q16 Economist: A tax is effective

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Economist: A tax is effective if it raises revenue and burdens all and only those persons targeted by the tax.

Principle 1 (sufficient for "effective")

If a tax raises revenue AND burdens all and only those persons targeted, then it is effective.

Principle 2 (sufficient for "ineffective")

If a tax does not raise revenue AND it costs a significant amount to enforce, then it is ineffective.

Evaluate

The two principles each give sufficient conditions: meet both clauses of Principle 1 → effective; meet both clauses of Principle 2 → ineffective. Neither principle gives a necessary condition, so the absence of one clause does not let us conclude anything by itself. The correct inference must trigger one principle in full.

Goal

Find an answer that fully satisfies the trigger of one of the two principles and draws the corresponding conclusion.

16.

Which one of the following inferences is most strongly supported by the principles stated by the economist?

  1. The tax on cigarettes burdens

    Half Scope

    Principle 1 requires both revenue raised AND the tax burdening all and only those targeted. This answer says the cigarette tax burdens "most, but not all" of those targeted — so the second clause fails. Even if revenue is raised, only one of the two sufficient conditions is met. The principle does not fire, and we cannot conclude the tax is effective.

    4% picked this

  2. The tax on alcohol raises

    Half Scope

    Principle 2 requires the tax to not raise revenue AND cost a significant amount to enforce. This answer says the alcohol tax raises only "a modest amount" of revenue — but it does raise revenue. The first clause fails (the tax does raise revenue), so Principle 2 cannot conclude ineffectiveness. Modest is not zero.

    6% picked this

  3. Correct

    The tax on gasoline costs

    Why this is right

    This answer assumes one of Principle 2's clauses (the gasoline tax costs a significant amount to enforce) and then conditions on the other clause (if it does not raise revenue). If both clauses are met, Principle 2 fires: the tax is ineffective. The structure ("X is true; if Y, then conclude Z") correctly applies a sufficient-condition principle by satisfying both required conditions.

    Skill tested: Principle-Conform · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    74% picked this

  4. The tax on coal burdens

    Half Scope

    Principle 1 requires the tax to raise revenue AND burden all and only those targeted. This answer establishes only the burden clause — that the coal tax burdens all and only those targeted. We are told nothing about whether it raises revenue. Without that, Principle 1 does not fire, and we cannot conclude the tax is effective.

    11% picked this

  5. The tax on steel does

    Half Scope

    Principle 2 requires the tax to not raise revenue AND cost a significant amount to enforce. This answer says the steel tax does not raise revenue (good) but explicitly does not cost a significant amount to enforce (the second clause fails). Both conditions must hold to conclude ineffectiveness; here only one does. Principle 2 does not fire.

    5% picked this

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