Consider the following statement:

Local government bans on plastic grocery bags due to environmental concerns have led to increased emergency room visits and deaths related to harmful bacteria such as E. coli, as many people do not wash their bags after each use.

Which of the following best characterizes the statement?

a. The statement demonstrates that even when government policies are enacted with good intentions, they do not always guarantee good outcomes due to unintended consequences and secondary effects.

b. The statement shows that all environmental regulations have benefits that exceed the costs.

c. The statement demonstrates that normative economics is often confused with positive economics.

d. The statement is an example of the fallacy of composition because all foods do not contain harmful bacteria.

Question

Business

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22 May, 00:54

Consider the following statement:

Local government bans on plastic grocery bags due to environmental concerns have led to increased emergency room visits and deaths related to harmful bacteria such as E. coli, as many people do not wash their bags after each use.

Which of the following best characterizes the statement?

a. The statement demonstrates that even when government policies are enacted with good intentions, they do not always guarantee good outcomes due to unintended consequences and secondary effects.

b. The statement shows that all environmental regulations have benefits that exceed the costs.

c. The statement demonstrates that normative economics is often confused with positive economics.

d. The statement is an example of the fallacy of composition because all foods do not contain harmful bacteria.

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Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Annabel Jacobson · Answer 1

a. The statement demonstrates that even when government policies are enacted with good intentions, they do not always guarantee good outcomes due to unintended consequences and secondary effects.

Explanation:

The government had good intentions by banning plastic grocery bags for environmental concerns, but this led to harmful E. coli infections.

The take-away is that when policies are implemented, apart from the primary effect the secondary long term effect should also be considered.