People in countries that put collective goals before individuals' goals lack confidence in the economic policies of their countries. A country's economic policies are the most significant factor determining whether that country's economy will experience a recession. If the people in a country that puts individuals' goals first are willing to make new investments in their country's economy, their country will emerge quickly from an economic recession. No new investment occurs in any country that does not emerge quickly from an economic recession.
Economist: A country' s rapid emergence from an economic recession requires substantial new investment in that country' s economy. Since people' s confidence in the economic policies of their country is a precondition for any new investment, countries that put collective goals before individuals' goals cannot emerge quickly from an economic recession.
Which one of the following, if assumed, enables the economist's conclusion to be properly drawn?