Concerned about the financial well-being of its elderly citizens, the government of Runagia decided two years ago to increase by 20 percent the government-provided pension paid to all Runagians over 65. Inflation in the intervening period has been negligible, and the increase has been duly received by all eligible Runagians. Nevertheless, many of them are no better off financially than they were before the increase, in large part because __. Which of the following most logically completes the passage? ['they buy goods whose prices tend to rise especially fast in times of inflation', 'in Runagia children typically supplement the income of elderly parents, but only by enough to provide them with a comfortable living', 'Runagian banks are so inefficient that it can take up to three weeks to cash a pension check', 'the pension was increased when the number of elderly Runagians below the poverty level reached an all-time high']