Larry Summers Memo :: essays research papers

Larry Summer’s Memo   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A controversy exists whether the World Bank should be encouraging migration of dirty industries to less-developed countries. Larry Summer challenges that the World Bank should persuade such a migration. Others contend that these less-developed countries, despite their economic plight, should not be coerced into harboring dirty industries, a position I support. (A1) In his first argument Summer wants to force a sudden increase in pollution, which would cause an improvement in the economy, of lower wage countries. Summer justifies his beliefs by giving an example of circumstantial as hominem. He states, â€Å"Health impairing pollution should by done in the country with lowest cost, which will be the country with the lowest wages.† An assumption is made by Summer, where he concludes that lowest cost countries will have the lower wages. He concludes by saying, these low wage countries should contain high pollution. The premise of Summer’s argument is assumed true, so his argument is invalid, but strong.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (C1) Many agree with Summer on his stance of high-pollution industries in lesser-developed countries. They claim that it is economic logic to fill the countries with low wages with profitable industries. By doing this, it would cause more people to want to live in a less populated area and work for higher wages. A sudden increase in population would also increase the number of the labor force. By doing this, more workers and industries would rapidly affect the growth of the economy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (R1) In closing the first argument Summer commits to subjective fallacy when he states dumping toxic waste is â€Å"logical† and â€Å"impeccable†. He develops this argument by using errors in reasoning, such as these examples. Summer also makes ambiguous claims by make a personal attack on the reader. The phrase â€Å"we should face up to that† tells the readers they have been denying something. Summer uses this phrase to conclude his argument of pollution dumping.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (A2) In the second argument, Summer’s discusses his opinion of Environmental issues. He states, â€Å"I’ve always thought that under-populated countries in Africa are vastly under-polluted.† This is clearly a subjective claim and Summer’s opinion. He vaguely assumes that a country could be â€Å"under-polluted†. The pollution of the world is not a natural occurrence; the waste of man creates it. This waste should not be pressured upon a geographical area if they do not create it. A clean and healthy environment is the only thing many lesser-developed countries have to cherish.