Question

Passage: 

Many economists argue that economic growth alone cannot guarantee well-being. While GDP may rise, factors like inequality, environmental degradation, and social alienation can worsen simultaneously. Thus, policy focus must move toward holistic indicators that measure quality of life rather than simply economic output. 

Question: 

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

Hint:

For inference questions, avoid extreme or speculative conclusions. Choose the option that must be true based on the passage's reasoning, not merely one that sounds related.

Answer 1

The passage states that rising GDP does not always translate into improved well-being because other factors—inequality, ecological damage, and social alienation—may deteriorate at the same time. Therefore, a reasonable inference is that GDP alone is an insufficient measure of societal progress. 

A correct inference would therefore be something like: 

"Assessing a nation's progress requires considering social and environmental factors, not just economic growth."

This follows logically from the passage's argument without adding new claims.