Read the following passage and answer the item(s) that follow, your answers to these item(s) should be based on the passage only.
Individuals, groups and leaders who promote human development operate under strong institutional, structural and political constraints’ that affect policy options. But experience suggests broad principles for shaping an appropriate agenda for human development. One important finding from several decades of human development experience is that focusing exclusively on economic growth is problematic. While we have good knowledge about how to advance health and education, the causes of growth are much less certain and growth is often elusive. Further, an unbalanced emphasis on growth is often associated with negative environmental consequences and adverse distributional effects. The experience of China, with its impressive growth record, reflects these broader concerns and underlines the importance of balanced approaches that emphasize investments in the non-income aspects of human development. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
Which of the above is/are valid assumption/assumptions?
Assumption 2 is valid. The passage explicitly states that "an unbalanced emphasis on growth is often associated with negative environmental consequences." This directly supports the premise that environmental degradation can be a consequence of economic growth.
Assumption 1 is not a valid assumption based on the passage. The passage highlights that "focusing exclusively on economic growth is problematic" and mentions "adverse distributional effects" associated with an unbalanced emphasis on growth. This indicates that economic growth does not inherently ensure a reduction in economic disparity; rather, it can potentially worsen it. Therefore, the assumption that higher economic growth is essential to ensure a reduction in economic disparity contradicts the nuanced view presented in the passage regarding the limitations and potential negative outcomes of an exclusive focus on growth.