Question

reading ralph waldo emerson, culture, behavior, beauty (1870)
wealth brings with it its own checks and balances. the basis of political economy is non - interference. the only safe rule is found in the self - adjusting meter of demand and supply. do not legislate.... make equal laws: secure life and property, and you need not give alms. open the doors of opportunity to talent and virtue, and they will do themselves justice, and property will not be in bad hands. in a free and just commonwealth, property rushes from the idle lazy and imbecile, to the industrious, brave, and persevering.

• culture, behavior, beauty,

ralph waldo emerson
according to this passage, emerson sees demand and supply as
a means of production.
a challenge to private ownership.
a principle that keeps the economy stable.
a barrier to free trade.

Explanation:

The passage states that the basis of political economy is non - interference and the only safe rule is the self - adjusting meter of demand and supply. This implies that demand and supply act as a principle. The other options:

• A means of production is not mentioned in relation to demand and supply in this context.
• There is no indication that demand and supply are a challenge to private ownership.
• It is stated that non - interference (which is related to demand and supply as the safe rule) is part of a free commonwealth, so it is not a barrier to free trade.

Answer:

a principle that keeps the economy stable.