In the passage, choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: are there more “complicated” policies which _________ better?

Introduction / Context:
This cloze passage is examining economic thinking about inflation targeting and alternative policies. The sentence you must complete asks whether there exist other, more complicated policies that perform better. The structure are there more “complicated” policies which _________ better requires a verb that correctly completes the relative clause and keeps the tense consistent with the present time discussion.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence fragment: are there more “complicated” policies which _________ better?
• Options: have been, will be, were, are.
• The main clause begins with are there, which is present tense.
• The author is posing a general, timeless question about the existence and performance of policies.

Concept / Approach:
The question structure are there policies which are better is standard English for asking about current or general comparisons. The verb in the relative clause which are better must match the present tense and simple comparison implied. Other tenses like have been, were, or will be introduce specific time frames or speculative future, changing the sense of the general question. Therefore, the simplest and most accurate verb is are, treating better as a predicate adjective that describes the policies.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the main auxiliary in the question is are: are there more “complicated” policies. Step 2: Realise that the relative clause which _________ better should harmonise with the present tense used in are there. Step 3: Test are: which are better. This creates a straightforward comparative structure, asking whether such policies are superior. Step 4: Test have been: which have been better implies a completed period in the past and suggests evidence up to now, which the passage does not explicitly mention. Step 5: Test were: which were better restricts the comparison to the past, not to general, ongoing performance. Step 6: Test will be: which will be better makes the sentence purely about future predictions, but the author is more broadly questioning existing alternative frameworks. Step 7: Conclude that are is the best fit for expressing a general present comparison.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider how you would normally ask such a question in conversation or writing: Are there other options which are better? or Are there policies which are better than this one? This pattern is natural and widely used. Switching to have been, were, or will be subtly shifts the meaning away from the broad, conceptual question towards specific time frames. In an economic essay that is discussing general policy design, the present simple is usually preferred for theoretical comparisons.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Have been is wrong because it implies past performance up to the present and would normally be followed by than plus some reference point, which is not given here. Were is wrong because it confines the comparison to the past and breaks the parallel with are there. Will be is wrong because it focuses on future performance rather than the idea of existing policies that may already be better alternatives.

Common Pitfalls:
Students might be tempted by have been, thinking that policies have a history of performance, but the passage is not describing a data based evaluation; it is raising a theoretical question. Another pitfall is overlooking the main verb are there and choosing a different tense without considering consistency. When in doubt, match the tense of the relative clause to the tense of the main clause unless there is a clear reason to do otherwise.

Final Answer:
The correct verb form is are, giving are there more “complicated” policies which are better?