Economic Recession

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Economic Recession

by amirhakimi » Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:20 am
Can someone please explain this problem?

In the country of Veltria, the past two years' broad economic recession has included a business downturn in the clothing trade, where sales are down by about 7 percent as compared to two years ago. Clothing wholesalers have found, however, that the proportion of credit extended to retailers that was paid off on time fell sharply in the first year of the recession but returned to its prerecession level in the second year.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the change between the first and the second year of the recession in the proportion of credit not paid off on time?
(A) The total amount of credit extended to retailers by clothing wholesalers increased between the first year of the recession and the second year.
(B) Between the first and second years of the recession, clothing retailers in Veltria saw many of their costs, rent and utilities in particular, increase.
(C) Of the considerable number of clothing retailers in Veltria who were having financial difficulties before the start of the recession, virtually all were forced to go out of business during its first year.
(D) Clothing retailers in Veltria attempted to stimulate sales in the second year of the recession by discounting merchandise.
(E) Relatively recession-proof segments of the clothing trade, such as work clothes, did not suffer any decrease in sales during the first year of the recession.

Answer is C
Sincerely,
Amir,

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sat Nov 16, 2013 1:44 pm
The recession lasted 2 years, so one might expect some consistency regarding the rates of loan repayment. HOWEVER, in the first year there was a sharp decline in the repayment of loans, and, in the second year, loan repayment returned to pre-recession levels.
We're looking for an answer choice that explains this discrepancy.

As we check each answer choice, we should ask "Does this explain why loan repayment was so much better in the second year?"

(A) The total amount of credit extended to retailers by clothing wholesalers increased between the first year of the recession and the second year.
This doesn't explain the differences in loan repayment.

(B) Between the first and second years of the recession, clothing retailers in Veltria saw many of their costs, rent and utilities in particular, increase.
If that were the case, then loan repayment would have been worse in the second year, not the first year

(C) Of the considerable number of clothing retailers in Veltria who were having financial difficulties before the start of the recession, virtually all were forced to go out of business during its first year.
So, in the first year, several "weak" companies (with little $ to repay loans) went out of business, leaving the strong (loan repaying) companies to repay their loans. YES - this explains why loan repayment was better in the second year.

(D) Clothing retailers in Veltria attempted to stimulate sales in the second year of the recession by discounting merchandise.
This doesn't say whether this attempt did, indeed, stimulate sales. So, it doesn't explain why loan repayment was better in the second year.

(E) Relatively recession-proof segments of the clothing trade, such as work clothes, did not suffer any decrease in sales during the first year of the recession.
This doesn't explain why loan repayment was better in the second year.

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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