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sameerballani
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Analysis of an argument-
The following appeared in the editorial section of a local newspaper:
"The inflow of immigrant workers into our community has put a downward pressure on wages. In fact, the average compensation of unskilled labor in our city has declined by nearly 10% over the past 5 years. Therefore, to protect our local economy, it is essential to impose a moratorium on further immigration."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
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YOUR RESPONSE:
In this argument the author argues that the inflow of immigrant workers into his community is the reason for a downward pressure on wages. To support this the author cites the fact that the average compensation of unskilled labor in city has declined by nearly 10% over the past 5 years.Thus the author finally conclude that it is essential to impose a moratorium on further immigration in order to protect the local economy. I find this argument seriously flawed and unconvincing due to two reasons, which are discussed further.
Firstly, the author makes a rosy prediction that the inflow of immigrant is responsible for the decline in wages. However such prediction is not supported by any concrete reason. It needs to be proved that the only reason for the decline in the wages is due to inflow of immigrant workers and no other reason is responsible for the same. It is quite possible that there is some other reason for the same. For example, the country has suffered some major crisis such as tsunami, earthquake, etc. which has had a major impact on the economy of the country and thus leading to decrease in wages across all the workers irrespective of their skills. In such a case we cannot attribute lowering of wages to the inflow of workers.
Secondly, It mentions the fact that the average compensation of unskilled labor in our city has declined by nearly 10% over the past 5 years. However, it needs to be confirmed that the group of unskilled labor used to deduce such a conclusion was in actual a true representative of the unskilled labor as a whole. Also, the decline in the the compensation of unskilled labor cannot be attributed to a downward pressure on wages as a whole. It is quite possible that while the wages have decline for the unskilled labor, it heras highly increased for skilled labor and hence making the overall average wages higher than before. So, it would be better to study the overall wages rather than wages of a particular group.
Thirdly , in order to prove that average compensation of unskilled labor in our city has declined by nearly 10% over the past 5 years and the reason for the same is the inflow of immigrant workers, it is required that author shows the results of some relevant study that proves the inflow of the immigrant worker was maximum in the category of unskilled labor and it is the only cause for the decline in the wages of unskilled labors.
In conclusion, I strongly feel that the argument is weak and seriously flawed. However it can be strengthen by supporting it with some detailed study which shows that the downward pressure on wages is only due to immigrant workers and there is no other reason responsible for the it. Hence, I would conclude this argument is unconvincing because of the major reasons discussed above.
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Also give suggestions, which will help me in improving.
Thanks
The following appeared in the editorial section of a local newspaper:
"The inflow of immigrant workers into our community has put a downward pressure on wages. In fact, the average compensation of unskilled labor in our city has declined by nearly 10% over the past 5 years. Therefore, to protect our local economy, it is essential to impose a moratorium on further immigration."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUR RESPONSE:
In this argument the author argues that the inflow of immigrant workers into his community is the reason for a downward pressure on wages. To support this the author cites the fact that the average compensation of unskilled labor in city has declined by nearly 10% over the past 5 years.Thus the author finally conclude that it is essential to impose a moratorium on further immigration in order to protect the local economy. I find this argument seriously flawed and unconvincing due to two reasons, which are discussed further.
Firstly, the author makes a rosy prediction that the inflow of immigrant is responsible for the decline in wages. However such prediction is not supported by any concrete reason. It needs to be proved that the only reason for the decline in the wages is due to inflow of immigrant workers and no other reason is responsible for the same. It is quite possible that there is some other reason for the same. For example, the country has suffered some major crisis such as tsunami, earthquake, etc. which has had a major impact on the economy of the country and thus leading to decrease in wages across all the workers irrespective of their skills. In such a case we cannot attribute lowering of wages to the inflow of workers.
Secondly, It mentions the fact that the average compensation of unskilled labor in our city has declined by nearly 10% over the past 5 years. However, it needs to be confirmed that the group of unskilled labor used to deduce such a conclusion was in actual a true representative of the unskilled labor as a whole. Also, the decline in the the compensation of unskilled labor cannot be attributed to a downward pressure on wages as a whole. It is quite possible that while the wages have decline for the unskilled labor, it heras highly increased for skilled labor and hence making the overall average wages higher than before. So, it would be better to study the overall wages rather than wages of a particular group.
Thirdly , in order to prove that average compensation of unskilled labor in our city has declined by nearly 10% over the past 5 years and the reason for the same is the inflow of immigrant workers, it is required that author shows the results of some relevant study that proves the inflow of the immigrant worker was maximum in the category of unskilled labor and it is the only cause for the decline in the wages of unskilled labors.
In conclusion, I strongly feel that the argument is weak and seriously flawed. However it can be strengthen by supporting it with some detailed study which shows that the downward pressure on wages is only due to immigrant workers and there is no other reason responsible for the it. Hence, I would conclude this argument is unconvincing because of the major reasons discussed above.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Also give suggestions, which will help me in improving.
Thanks
Last edited by sameerballani on Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
