Critical Reasoning

Sometimes individuals must choose between courses of action: one that most benefits the community and another that most benefits the person making the decision. Faced with such a choice, individuals tend to choose the course of action most beneficial to themselves. It is therefore a principle of good government to adjust the incentives and disincentives for private individuals so that such choices arise, ensuring as much as possible that what is offered is the best choice for the community.

Which one of the following best illustrates an application of the cited principle of good government?

A> In order to escape the changes of favoritism, the city government awards the contract for a new courthouse to a different developer from the one who completed the new city hall, even though the contract bids from both developers were the same.

B> In order to satisfy a powerful law and order group, the legislature rejects a new bill protecting suspect's rights, despite the bill's popularity among voters in general.

C> In order to placate laid-ff government workers who have demanded help in acquiring skills necessary for private industry jobs, the government diverts funds from existing social programs to a new job-training program.

D> In order to deflect voter attention from a recent increase in the salaries of elected officials, the legislature votes against a proposal to increase the salaries of appointed officials.

E> In order to avoid electricity shortages that will occur unless electricity uses in the city significantly decreases, the city government approves an increase in the electricity charged to the city residents.

How about A

I came down to A and E.
A says both are equally good
E says financial burden on one is good for all.

I think there is a typo in A . It should charges instead of changes .
IMO E . If there is an increase in the Electricity charges , individuals will choose to consume less electricity which will cause less shortages

Mundasingh is exactly right!!

OA is E.

The principle is that the government should adjust "incentives" and "disincentives" to help adjust individuals behavior if this will benefit the community.

The other answer choices are not undertaken to benefit the community as a whole.

A) this choice is done in order to escape charges of favoritism and since the bids were the same it does not benefit the community to choose the one that they did.

B)This choice is done to satisfy a powerful group

C) This is done to placate workers

D) This is done to distract voters.

E) This is done to prevent electricity shortages - something that would harm the entire community. And the course taken changes the incentive for individuals to modify their behavior. So this certainly fits!

As it says in the Veritas Critical Reasoning 2 book where this question came from (just one of 102 questions in that book...choice E ensures that the best choice for the individual is also the best choice for the community.

Hope it helps!