Return on equity measures how much profit a company generates from each dollar of shareholders’ equity. It’s calculated as net income divided by equity. With net income of 80 and equity of 500, ROE = 80 / 500 = 0.16, or 16%. This means the company earns 16 cents for every dollar of equity invested. For context, an ROE of 8% would imply 40 in net income, 12% would imply 60, and 20% would imply 100, so those values don’t align with the given numbers.

Tariffs are taxes on goods crossing borders. They are most commonly charged on imports to raise revenue and protect domestic industries. However, governments can also impose tariffs on exports (export duties) in some cases, which means the idea that tariffs apply only to imports and never to exports isn’t accurate. Because tariffs can target both sides of trade, the statement isn’t strictly true, making the broader statement false.

Credit reporting agencies gather and maintain individuals’ credit histories and provide lenders with credit reports and scores to assess risk. Experian is one of the largest players in this space, along with Equifax and TransUnion, and it specializes in compiling credit reports for lenders as well as offering consumer services. The other options don’t fit this role: Microsoft is a technology company, Boeing is an aerospace manufacturer, and Visa is a payment network that processes transactions but does not compile credit histories. Since the question points to a major credit reporting agency, Experian is the best answer.

Discrimination means unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people and/or things, rather than judging individuals on their own merits. It shows up when someone is treated less favorably because of characteristics like race, gender, age, religion, disability, or other protected status, instead of evaluating their qualifications or behavior. This bias can affect hiring, promotions, housing, or access to services, and it undermines fairness and equal opportunity. In contrast, aiming for equal treatment of all individuals regardless of category reflects a different approach—one that seeks to remove bias and judge people by relevant criteria. Concepts like free market competition and evaluating risk are separate ideas related to economics and risk assessment, not to how people are treated based on category. For example, refusing a job due to someone's race is discrimination; assessing a candidate's skills and experience without regard to race is fair treatment.