In economics, a "Veblen good" is an item which people buy in greater quantity when the price goes up. <b> According to the Law of Supply and Demand, when the price of an ordinary item goes up, demand drops, i. e. people buy fewer of them. </b> A Veblen good is a luxury item to which status is attached, such as a designer outfit or luxury car. As the price of such an item increases, its prestige increases, which makes the item that much more desirable. <b> Ttherefore, as the price increases, the demand also increases, and more of these items are sold. </b> In the argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles? ['The first is a view that the author opposes; the second is the main conclusion.', 'The first is an ironic description of what could happen in the marketplace; the second is a more realistic description of what actually happens.', 'This first is a piece of evidence supporting the main conclusion; the second is the main conclusion.', 'The first is a general rule, the violation of which seems to indicate a paradox; the second is the resolution of that apparent paradox.']