How does the way people treat the old man change over the course of the story and
how does this develop the theme?

it's not the readmission

when a country suffers, for example, a drought period, the market product is affected for a low offer, in this case, potatoes; the government has to tax to the households, which have to give more money for the potatoes which they consume, that situation make them consume substitute goods even through loans, it could increase the financial market movement and the inflationary phenomena, the business has to increase salaries in order to the employees could buy a more expensive food (potatoes) and in order to inflation tha business had to buy expensive supplies in the factor market, while the rest of the world have to gain more money to consume the same amount of potatoes.

seeing as no choices were provided, i'll do my best to answer it from knowledge.

job specialization promotes work ethic to the person doing the job. he/she may be strong in the arms and able to lift things, specializing him/her in a job where you lift and carry.