Which of the following situations best relates to Jeffrey Sachs's view on a country's economic development?

• A. Economic development is primarily driven by cultural values and traditions.
• B. A country achieves rapid economic growth solely through free market reforms, regardless of its initial conditions.
• C. A country is unable to grow economically due to geographic disadvantages such as being landlocked or having poor soil.
• D. A country's development is determined only by its political institutions and not by external factors.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand Jeffrey Sachs's perspective on economic development. Sachs emphasizes the importance of geographic and environmental factors in shaping a country's economic growth potential.
2. Step 2: Identify the key elements in each option. For example, cultural values, free market reforms, geographic disadvantages, and political institutions are all different factors influencing development.
3. Step 3: Recall that Sachs argues geographic disadvantages, such as being landlocked or having poor soil, can significantly hinder economic growth, making it harder for countries to develop.
4. Step 4: Compare this view with the options given. The option mentioning geographic disadvantages aligns closely with Sachs's argument about the role of geography in economic development.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the situation best relating to Sachs's view is the one highlighting geographic disadvantages as a barrier to economic growth.