The author says, 'In fact, the concept is worse than irrelevant: it does harm. It is a major cause of the misunderstanding of the nature of profit in our society and of the deep — seated hostility to profit, which are among the most dangerous diseases of an industrial society. It is largely responsible for the worst mistakes of public policy' from this we can conclude that the theory of profit maximisation and profit motive Is largely responsible for the worst mistakes in public policy. Thus, option A can be concluded. The author in the 2nd paragraph says, ' And it is in large part responsible for the prevailing belief that there is an inherent contradiction between profit and a company’s ability to make a social contribution. Actually, a company can make a social contribution only if it is highly profitable'. From this although we can conclude that the company's ability to make a social contribution is dependent on the profit it makes we cannot conclude that the theory of profitmaximisation and profit motive Is a synchronised goal with a company’s ability to make a social contribution. Thus, option B cannot be concluded. In the 1st paragraph the author says, 'Asked what a business is, the typical businessman is likely to answer, “An organisation to make a profit.” The typical economist is likely to give the same answer. This answer is not only false, it is irrelevant. The prevailing economic theory of the mission of business enterprise and behaviour'. From this we can say that the theory of profit maximisation and profit motive is not the main purpose and job of managing a business. Thus, option C cannot be concluded. It is given that, 'The idea was invented by the classical economists to explain the economic reality that their theory of static equilibrium could not explain. There has never been any evidence for the existence of the profit motive, and we have long since found the true explanation of the phenomena of economic change and fig growth which the profit motive was first put forth to explain'. From this we can conclude that the theory of profit maximisation and profit motive Was an idea invented by classical economists and thus, option D cannot be concluded. Hence, option A is the correct answer.