Which of the following best describes what might happen to a country's economy and standard of living without property rights?

• A. Government spending would automatically increase, leading to higher standards of living.
• B. Economic growth would likely slow down and the standard of living could decrease due to lack of incentives for investment.
• C. Standard of living would remain unchanged because property rights do not affect economic outcomes.
• D. The economy would experience rapid growth as resources are freely available to everyone.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of property rights in an economy: Property rights provide individuals and businesses with legal ownership and control over resources and assets, which creates incentives to invest, innovate, and efficiently use resources.
2. Analyze the impact of lacking property rights: Without property rights, individuals and firms may be reluctant to invest or improve resources because they cannot be sure they will reap the benefits, leading to reduced incentives for economic activity.
3. Consider how this affects economic growth: Reduced investment and innovation typically slow down economic growth since resources are not allocated efficiently and productive activities are discouraged.
4. Evaluate the consequences for the standard of living: Slower economic growth often results in fewer improvements in income, goods, and services available to people, which can cause the standard of living to stagnate or decline.
5. Conclude that the absence of property rights is likely to hinder economic growth and reduce the standard of living, rather than automatically increasing government spending, leaving living standards unchanged, or causing rapid growth.