Logical Reasoning

PT129 · S3 · Q6 Economist: As should be obvious

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Economist: As should be obvious, raising the minimum wage significantly would make it more expensive for businesses to pay workers for minimum-wage jobs.

Evidence

As should be obvious, raising the minimum wage significantly would make it more expensive for businesses to pay workers for minimum-wage jobs.

Intermediate Conclusion

Therefore, businesses could not afford to continue to employ as many workers for such jobs.

Main Conclusion

So raising the minimum wage significantly will cause an increase in unemployment.

Evaluate

There are two arguments here. The correct answer could attack the argument containing the premise and the intermediate conclusion or could attack the argument containing the intermediate conclusion and the main conclusion.

6.

Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the economist's argument?

  1. Correct

    Businesses typically pass the cost

    Why this is right

    This attacks the argument containing the premise and the intermediate conclusion. This makes it possible that businesses could afford to employ as many workers for minimum-wage jobs.

    Skill tested: Weaken · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    74% picked this

  2. When the difference between minimum

    Out of Scope

    The percentage of a business’s employees who are skilled is not relevant to the argument.

    1% picked this

  3. A modest increase in unemployment

    Out of Scope

    Whether or not a modest increase in the unemployment rate is acceptable is not relevant to the argument.

    1% picked this

  4. Most workers are earning more

    Too Weak

    This is consistent with the argument which assumes that some workers are earning minimum wage.

    21% picked this

  5. The unemployment rate has been

    Out of Scope

    What has happened in the past is not relevant to the argument.

    2% picked this

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