Read the following passage from an essay on behavioral economics:
'Classical economists argue that consumers generally behave irrationally when purchasing complex financial products. Yet, this view ignores the reality that people frequently value stability over maximum profit. For instance, empirical studies demonstrate that most investors choose lower-yield fixed-rate bonds over volatile high-yield stocks during economic downturns. This pattern indicates that investors are intentionally minimizing risk rather than merely failing to maximize returns. Consequently, we must conclude that the traditional metric for measuring economic rationality is fundamentally flawed.'
Match each statement excerpted from the passage to its precise logical role within the argument.
- consumers generally behave irrationally when purchasing complex financial productsA viewpoint attributed to others that the argument is designed to criticize
- most investors choose lower-yield fixed-rate bonds over volatile high-yield stocks during economic downturnsA piece of empirical evidence offered to directly support a broader behavioral claim
- investors are intentionally minimizing risk rather than merely failing to maximize returnsAn intermediate conclusion that serves as a bridge to the argument's final position
- the traditional metric for measuring economic rationality is fundamentally flawedThe main conclusion that the entire argument is ultimately structured to establish