PrepTest 19, Section 3, Question 18
Politician: A government that taxes incomes at a rate of 100 percent will generate no revenue because all economic activity will cease. So it follows that the lower the rate of income tax, the more revenue the government will generate by that tax.
Politician: A government that taxes incomes at a rate of 100 percent will generate no revenue because all economic activity will cease. So it follows that the lower the rate of income tax, the more revenue the government will generate by that tax.
Economist: Your conclusion cannot be correct, since it would mean that an income tax of 0 percent would generate the maximum revenue.
Politician: A government that taxes incomes at a rate of 100 percent will generate no revenue because all economic activity will cease. So it follows that the lower the rate of income tax, the more revenue the government will generate by that tax.
Economist: Your conclusion cannot be correct, since it would mean that an income tax of 0 percent would generate the maximum revenue.
Politician: A government that taxes incomes at a rate of 100 percent will generate no revenue because all economic activity will cease. So it follows that the lower the rate of income tax, the more revenue the government will generate by that tax.
Which one of the following argumentative strategies is used by the economist in responding to the politician?
stating a general principle that is incompatible with the conclusion the politician derives
providing evidence that where the politician's advice has been adopted, the results have been disappointing
arguing that the principle derived by the politician, if applied in the limiting case, leads to an absurdly false conclusion
undermining the credibility of the politician by openly questioning the politician's understanding of economics
attacking the politician's argument by giving reason to doubt the truth of a premise
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