Adam Smith argues in the Wealth of Nations that an economy will produce more goods and services if

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When evaluating Adam Smith's claim in the Wealth of Nations about how an economy will produce more goods and services, several options must be weighed for accuracy and coherence with his theory.
Option a says: 'a. people ignore their own interests and contribute to national wealth as a whole.' This reverses Smith's idea. He argues that individuals pursuing their own self-interest can inadvertently promote the public good through the mechanism of the invisible hand, not that they ignore their own interests.
Option b says: 'b. people act in their own self-interest, than if the government directs economic activity.' This aligns with Smith's core assertion that voluntary actions driven by self-interest, when allowed to operate with minimal government interference, tend to allocate resources more efficiently than centralized planning—hence more goods and services emerge. The comparison to government-directed activity captures the tension Smith emphasized between laissez-faire tendencies and state control.
Option c says: 'c. the government controls the use of the nation's scarce resources.' This reflects a view of centralized planning or heavy government control, which Smith explicitly criticized as less efficient than decentralized pursuit of self-interest in a competitive market.
Option d says: 'd. people act in the public interest than if they act in their own self-interest.' This flips Smith’s emphasis. He argued that self-interest, not the public interest per se, can lead to desirable outcomes through market mechanisms, provided institutions are appropriate; claiming the public interest supersedes self-interest diverges from his argument.
In summary, understanding Smith requires recognizing that the productive force comes from individuals pursuing their own gains within a competitive framework, which often yields greater overall output than direct government direction. The other options either misstate the role of self-interest, imply centralized control, or invert the causal emphasis that Smith identifies.

Adam Smith argues in the Wealth of Nations that an economy will produce more goods and services if

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