Humanitarian considerations aside, sheer economics dictates that country X should institute, as country Y has done, a nationwide system of air and ground transportation for conveying seriously injured persons to specialized trauma centers. Timely access to the kind of medical care that only specialized centers can provide could save the lives of many people. The earnings of these people would result in a substantial increase in country X’s gross national product, and the taxes paid on those earnings would substantially augment government revenues.
Question: The argument depends on the assumption that
Options:
A. lifetime per-capita income is roughly the same in country X as it is in country Y
B. there are no specialized trauma centers in country X at present
C. the treatment of seriously injured persons in trauma centers is not more costly than treatment elsewhere
D. there would be a net increase in employment in country X if more persons survived serious injury
E. most people seriously injured in automobile accidents in country X do not now receive treatment in specialized trauma centers.
Answer: D