grammar - How to determine what an attributive clause modifies

I was wondering how to determine what an attributive clause modifies?

For example:

1. 
   

   It has been associated with
   neoclassical economics and with the
   neoclassical synthesis, which combines
   neoclassical methods and Keynesian
   approach macroeconomics.

   
   
   

   
   
   

   Does "which combines neoclassical
   methods and Keynesian approach
   macroeconomics" modify "the
   neoclassical synthesis"?




2. If without the second with, i.e.,

   
   
   

   
   

   It has been associated with
   
   neoclassical economics and the
   neoclassical synthesis, which combines
   neoclassical methods and Keynesian
   approach macroeconomics.

   
   

   
   
   

   How can one tell if the attributive
   clause modifies "the neoclassical
   synthesis", "neoclassical economics
   and the neoclassical synthesis" or
   
   "It has been associated with
   neoclassical economics and the
   neoclassical synthesis"?

Answer

While attributive clauses don't always modify the immediately previous noun, that is the default assumption, as the other answer says. If this reading produces nonsense, the attributive clause can be assumed to modify something else.

As written:

It has been associated with neoclassical economics and with the neoclassical synthesis, which combines neoclassical methods and Keynesian-approach macroeconomics.

the attributive clause modifies neoclassical synthesis. Removing the second with would not change this.

To make it modify neoclassical economics and the neoclassical synthesis, you need to change the verb from singular to plural. In this case, the sentence reads better without the second with:

It has been associated with neoclassical economics and the neoclassical synthesis, which combine neoclassical methods and Keynesian-approach macroeconomics.

To make an attributive clause modify "It", you need to rewrite the sentence.

This technique, which combines neoclassical methods and Keynesian-approach macroeconomics, has been associated with neoclassical economics and with the neoclassical synthesis.

(where the appropriate noun should be inserted instead of technique, which is my best guess at what "It" refers to.)

Finally, Keynesian-approach needs to be hyphenated, because it's a phrase being used as an adjective.