Economist: Some critics of the media

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Stimulus

Economist: Some critics of the media have contended that negative news reports on the state of the economy can actually harm the economy because such reports damage people's confidence in it, and this lack of confidence in turn adversely affects people's willingness to spend money. But studies show that spending own immediate economic situations. Thus these media critics are mistaken.

What this question is testing

Flaw

Your task

Describe the reasoning error the argument actually commits.

Common trap

Answers that name a real logical flaw the argument doesn't actually make.

Winning move

Articulate the gap in the reasoning yourself, then match it to the choice that describes that gap.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question

17.

The economist's argument is flawed in that it fails to consider the

Answer choices

Reversal27% picked this
one's level of confidence in one's own economic situation affects how one perceives reports about the overall
This answer is about whether one’s view on one’s own economic situation affects the overall state of the economy, while the argument relies on an assumption about whether one’s view of the overall state of the economy affects one’s view on one’s own economic situation.
27%
Out of Scope1% picked this
news reports about the state of the economy are not
The accuracy of the negative news reports is not relevant. The issue is whether negative news reports harm the economy.
1%
Out of Scope2% picked this
people who pay no attention to economic reports in the media always judge accurately whether their own economic situation is
The accuracy of one’s judgments on one’s own economic situation is not relevant. The issue is whether they might be affected by negative news reports on the state of the economy.
2%
Correct67% picked this
people who have little confidence in the overall economy generally take a pessimistic view concerning their
Why this is right
This attacks the assumption of the argument that one’s confidence in one’s own economic situation is not affected by reports about the overall state of the economy.
Skill tested: Flaw · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
67%
Strengthens3% picked this
an economic slowdown usually has a greater impact on the economic situations of individuals if it takes people by surprise
Rather than attacking an assumption of the argument, this answer would support the argument, since it indicates that negative news reports have a positive effect on the overall economy.
3%

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