[a习作temp] Argument 237 [复制链接]

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电梯直达

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发表于 2007-8-2 14:38:54 |只看该作者 |倒序浏览

Argument 237: The following appeared as part of an article in a local Beauville newspaper.
"According to a government report, last year the city of Dillton reduced its corporate tax rate by 15 percent; at the same time, it began offering relocation grants and favorable rates on city utilities to any company that would relocate to Dillton. Within 18 months, two manufacturing companies moved to Dillton, where they employ a total of 300 people. Therefore, the fastest way for Beauville to stimulate economic development and hence reduce unemployment is to provide tax incentives and other financial inducements that encourage private companies to relocate here."

In this argument, in order to stimulate the economic development and reduce unemployment, the arguer recommend Beauville city to employ the similar policy as the city Dillton to provide tax incentives and some financial inducements. In addition, the arguer cites the example of Dillton city to support his view. At first glance, the suggestion sounds reasonable; however, a thorough and comprehensive examination will real that the argument makes a series of critical fallacies.

In the first place, the arguer commits a fallacy of false analogy in comparing the city Dillton with the city Beauville newspaper. We are given no such information about the differences and commonness of the two cities such as the extent of the economy development, the situation of unemployment, the geographical distribution, the tax rate and so forth. Thus the example cited would lend little support what the arguer conclude. For example, perhaps the economic development of Beauville is more advanced and less unemployment than that in city Dillton, thus there is no need to implement such a policy as city Dillton.

In the second place, from the example cited above, the author fails to establish the causal relationship between the favorable strategy and the relocation of the two companies. No direct evidence is provided to demonstrate that it is the favorable strategy that attracts the relocation of many companies. The author rules out other possible factor that may contribute to this such as the rich nature resources, convenient transportation and cheaper labor force. So the conclusion is very unconvincing.

Last but not the least, granted that the policy would work in the city Beauville effectively; it does not ensure that it is the fastest way to stimulate economic development and reduce unemployment. The author does not take into account other possible factors that may influence the development of economy and the unemployment situation other than the policy the arguer recommended. for example, supposed there are many companies relocated in the area, however the literal level of the local residents are too low to be qualified as a worker, so it can do nothing to assuage the unemployment.

In sum, the argument is well presented, but not well reasoned, to strengthen what the arguer conclude, further evidence should be provided and more detailed contrast should be made. In addition, the author should demonstrate that the tax rate is the only factor that affects the economic development.