Passage Summary: Central bankers raise interest rates to stop inflation, but because it takes two years to see results, they have to act before anyone notices a problem. This makes people think the bankers are just being party poopers and hurting the economy for no reason.

Conclusion: The success central bankers have in controlling inflation can actually make it more difficult for them to prevent future inflation without facing public disapproval.

Reasoning: Bankers use interest rates to control inflation, but these rates take years to work, meaning bankers must act before inflation is visible; consequently, the public views these early hikes as unnecessary restrictions on the economy.

Analysis: This statement serves as a foundational premise that explains the specific mechanism central bankers use to achieve their goals. By establishing that interest rates are the primary tool, the author sets the stage for the subsequent explanation of the 'time lag' problem. You can identify this as a premise because the rest of the argument relies on this mechanism to explain why the public eventually gets angry. It provides the 'how' that leads to the 'why' of the concluding paradox.