AWA Evaluation - Request you to evaluate my AWA
[#permalink]
25 Jun 2016, 22:40
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.
My Essay
The author states that the inflow of immigrant workers pose a risk to the local economy of our country. The author has based his argument on the fact that the wages in our country have been declining the last few years. The argument in its current fails to consider several external issues which can be responsible for the declining wages. Further, the author also fails to present a holistic picture of the scenario such as presenting only one data set of information- declining wages of "unskilled labor".
First, correlation does not mean causality; the author does not present any fact or figure to establish a direct link between the worker's wages and the inflow of immigrant workers. The falling wages may very well be result of a falling economy, recession, saturation in the industrial sector, automation in factories etc.
Second, the author presents data only for the "unskilled labor" and conveniently misses out on the "skilled labor". Moreover, the author fails to profile the immigrant workers, it may very well be that the immigrant workers are "skilled labor". In that case the author will be comparing apples to oranges
Thirdly, the author fails to mention since when has significant immigration has started in the country and since when, if at all, significantly impacted the job market. It may be that rate of immigration has been constant in the last few years. While the only the wages have just now started to fall.
Lastly, the author asks for a moratorium on further immigration- however, the author fails to present fact on how or if at all this will stop the falling wages. It may be the case that the country will lose potential consumers in the form of immigrant workers. The country may also loose on some highly skilled and efficient workers who could otherwise help in the growth of the economy.
Thus, the argument in its current form cannot be considered sound. To strengthen the argument, the author should bring forward facts about the type of immigrant workers coming to the country- skilled or unskilled, consider external economic factors- global recession, inflation, saturation in job market etc.