Question

Suppose an economist advises a city's mayor to begin charging drivers a fee to drive on a busy highway during congested times. The mayor does not implement the policy because it would not be popular with voters. Which of the following statements best describes the scenario?
a. This is a common occurrence. The policymaker knows the best policy but chooses not to institute it for other reasons.
b. This is a common occurrence. The policymaker usually disregards an economist's advice because they do not believe it is the most efficient policy.
c. This is an unlikely occurrence. Most of the time, policymakers follow the advice of economists and institute the most efficient policies.
d. This would never happen. Policymakers always follow the advice of economists.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is the letter b. This is a common occurrence. The policymaker usually disregards an economist's advice because they do not believe it is the most efficient policy.

Explanation:

It is common for policymakers to disregard the advice of an economist. This is because in addition to their often finding that the policies suggested by economists are not the most efficient, they observe the political return of such action, ie not just efficiency, but the extent to which this policy will bring political benefits. Thus, as in this case, the policy is not implemented because it is not popular with voters.