Question

Identify the following arguments about economic growth as either anti-growth or pro-growth.

a. Growth means worker burnout and frantic schedules.

b. Rising incomes allow people to buy more education, medical care, and recreation.

c. Earth has only finite amounts of natural resources.

d. Even the richest countries still have poverty, homelessness, and discrimination.

e. Richer countries spend more money protecting the environment.

f. Natural resource prices have fallen rather than increased over time.

Short answer

1. Anti-growth argument.

2. Pro-growth argument.

3. Anti-growth statement.

4. Anti-growth argument.

5. Pro-growth argument.

6. Pro-growth argument.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Reason behind argument ‘a’

The argument states that rising income allows people to avail themselves more of education, medical care, and recreation. The statement implies that economic growth enables people to raise their standard of living. It shows the positive side of economic growth in the economy. Thus, the argument is a pro-growth statement.

Step 2. Reason behind argument ‘b’

The argument states that rising income allows people to avail themselves more of education, medical care, and recreation. The statement implies that economic growth enables people to raise their standard of living. It shows the positive side of economic growth in the economy. Thus, the argument is a pro-growth statement.

Step 3. Reason behind argument ‘c’

The argument is telling that natural resources are finite. Since economic growth requires natural resources to produce goods and services for society, the growth will deplete the finite resources. It implies that growth is causing depletion of natural resources, which shows the demerit of economic growth. Hence, the argument is an anti-growth argument.

Step 4. Reason behind argument ‘d’

The argument conveys that despite the huge prosperity gained by rich countries with the help of economic growth, it (economic growth) does not solve problems of poverty, homelessness, and discrimination in these countries. The argument reflects the economic growth on a bad note as it cannot solve these problems despite increasing the prosperity of the economy. Thus, the argument is an anti-growth argument.

Step 5. Reason behind argument ‘e’

The argument is trying to establish that economic growth helps in making countries rich. The increased prosperity and income bring more money to the economy, allowing the government to spend more money on environmental protection. It shows the benefit of economic growth. Hence, the argument is a pro-growth argument.

Step 6. Reason behind argument ‘f’

The argument conveys that despite the excessive use of natural resources for economic growth, the price of natural resources has fallen instead of increasing. It is trying to dismiss the argument of finite natural resources by implying that if the natural resources are finite, excessive use of them would increase the price. However, the prices have fallen. The argument supports the idea of economic growth. Therefore, it is a pro-growth argument.