During the past decade, the labor market in France has not been operating according to free market principles, but instead stifling functioning through its various government regulations restricting the hiring and firing of workers.


principles, but instead stifling functioning through its various government regulations restricting the hiring and firing of workers
principles, instead it has been functioning in a stifled manner as a result of various government regulations that restrict the hiring and firing of workers
principles, rather functioning despite being stifled as a result of government regulations that variously restrict worker hiring and firing
principles; the hiring and firing of workers is restricted there by various government regulations, its functioning being stifled
principles; instead, its functioning has been stifled by various government regulations restricting the hiring and firing of workers

choose B


Dude,
Clearly paste the question...otherwise don't paste it atall.. [/b]

b, c are wrong because there are no conjuction between 2 clauses

a is wordy

d, change the meaning as if stiflling is not caused by regulation

D is correct

My answer is "b"

During the past decade, the labor market in France has not been operating according to free market principles, but instead stifling functioning through its various government regulations restricting the hiring and firing of workers.

a) principles, but instead stifling functioning through its various government regulations restricting the hiring and firing of workers
Awkward: stifling functioning. No clearity for its...whether it is govt. or france or market or what ?

b) principles, instead it has been functioning in a stifled manner as a result of various government regulations that restrict the hiring and firing of workers
Correct.

c) principles, rather functioning despite being stifled as a result of government regulations that variously restrict worker hiring and firing
Being is always wrong in GMAT answer choices. :-)

d) principles; the hiring and firing of workers is restricted there by various government regulations, its functioning being stifled
Being is always wrong in GMAT answer choices. :-)

e) principles; instead, its functioning has been stifled by various government regulations restricting the hiring and firing of workers
instead of "functioning has been stifled" better is "functioning in a stifled manner" because market is still functioning but in a stiffled manner.