Suppose That a Small County Is Considering Adding a Guard

question 79

Multiple Choice

Suppose that a small county is considering adding a guard rail to a dangerous curve by a river. The guard rail will cost $70,000. The average damage done to vehicles that slide off the road at the curve is $10,000. It is expected that the guard rail will prevent 5 vehicles from sliding off the road during its usable life. What should the county do?

• A)Install the guard rail because safety is priceless.
• B)Install the guard rail because the benefits exceed the costs.
• C)Do not install the guard rail because the costs exceed the benefits.
• D)Do not install the guard rail at any cost because drivers can purchase private insurance for their vehicles.

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Definitions:

Structural Functionalism

A sociological paradigm that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability through social institutions.

McDonaldization

George Ritzer’s term describing the spread of bureaucratic rationalization and the accompanying increases in efficiency and dehumanization.

Rationalization

The process of replacing traditional and spontaneous methods of organization with calculated, efficient, and predictable procedures.

George Ritzer

A sociologist known for his work on consumerism, globalization, and the concept of McDonaldization, which describes the process of rationalization in societal institutions.