Argument109 大家互拍，请各位多提宝贵建议

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TOPIC: ARGUMENT109 - The following appeared in a letter to the editor of the Maple City newspaper.

"Twenty years ago Pine City established strict laws designed to limit the number of new buildings that could be constructed in the city. Since that time the average housing prices in Pine City have increased considerably. Chestnut City, which is about the same size as Pine City, has over the past twenty years experienced an increase in average housing prices similar to Pine City, but Chestnut City never established any laws that limit new building construction. So it is clear that laws limiting new construction have no effect on average housing prices. So if Maple City were to establish strict laws that limit new building construction, these laws will have no effect on average housing prices."


In this analysis, the arguer intends to prove that laws limiting new construction have no effect on average housing prices and that if Maple City were to establish strict laws that limit new building construction, these laws will have no effect on average housing prices. To substantiate this claim, the arguer provides the evidence that Pine City, in which the average housing prices have increased considerably, established strict laws designed to limit number of new buildings that could be constructed in the city twenty years ago, while
Chestnut City, which is about the same size as Pine City, has experienced a similar increase in average housing prices without establishing any laws about limiting new building construction. As it stands, this argument is unconvincing for several critical flaws.

The major problem with this argument is failing to consider other possible alternatives to rise the average housing prices. As for Chestnut City, which did not design any laws limiting house building, some other elements may make a contribute to the increase of average housing prices: first, in this area, the material condition is good enough so that each family is able to buy more than one houses or even more, which could lead the lack of building supply. Second, during the past twenty years, a lot of new immigrants came to this region, which has a little population at first.  More habitants need extra building for living, which can not be satisfied in short period. Furthermore, Chestnut City may suffer from several natural damages, such as flooding, tornado and so on. Many building collapse and hundreds of people are homeless, which results in the climax of building construction. Besides the laws, all addressed above may be the reasons for the raise of average housing prices. Due to the same reason, the change of housing prices in Pine City is not affected by only one factor. The legislation of laws could promote the prices of house or reduce it , or have no effect on it.

Another problem that undermines the argument is that the survey was drawn twenty years ago, when the laws limiting building construction was generated. The results acquired twenty years ago are not able to apply to current situation. Twenty years is a long enough period to change many things. During this period, a baby could grow into a sophisticated adult, and inflation of construction material may also take place. The pay of worker is improved following the time fleeting.

Finally, Maple City has its own situation which is quiet different from the other two. The conclusion reached in others is not suitable for Maple City. Imagine that Maple City is an area which has many younger ready for marriage. New couples need houses to make a new family. At this time, housing prices would be influenced by the laws which limit house building.

To sum up, the comparison made between the former two cities is not completely reasonable, due to that the arguer ignores some alternatives and causes that can affect the housing prices. Furthermore, to support a conclusion, it is necessary to cite valid evidence obtained recently, and different cities should be treated respectively according their own particular features.