Well... I've never posted a response to one of these before so keeping my fingers crossed this helps out.

Most seriously weakens the argument.

D) Their accuracy is an important factor affecting

the profitability of the investment companies.

This answer is strengthening the argument; not weakening it. If they are wrong, at a minimum their salaries are effected; at worse their jobs are gone because bankruptcy and the like:( As the conclusion states

the investment companies' economists

are risking their jobs

when they make forecasts

A) - Their content is likely to be dictated as much

by the interests of the economist's employer

as by an objective assessment of the economy

This detaches them from the conclusion which states *the investment

companies' economists are risking their jobs when they

make forecasts. With answer choice A they could be taking little--maybe no risk-- when they predict a strong economic recovery.

I hope this helps

Sometimes, the best way to start is to just start.

Thank you! This does help.

Thank you!