essay - GMAT: Argument6

Question:
The following appeared as part of an article in a magazine devoted to regional life.

"Corporations should look to the city of Helios when seeking new business opportunities or a new location. Even in the recent recession, Helios's unemployment rate was lower than the regional average. It is the industrial center of the region, and historically it has provided more than its share of the region's manufacturing jobs. In addition, Helios is attempting to expand its economic base by attracting companies that focus on research and development of innovative technologies."

Discuss how well reasoned ... etc.

Answer:
The article's intention is to attract companies to locate the offices in the city. To achieve the purpose, the article appeals its low unemployment rate, its industrial aspect, and its economic base especially for research and development. Each point has weak logical support.

A low unemployment rate, which is lower than the average of the region the city belongs, is certainly a good condition for its economy. For enterprises, however, it might be a disadvantage in terms of difficulty of hiring new employees necessary when the enterprise decides to locate the branch office there.

Although the article emphasizes that the city is an industrial one which provides engineering jobs, this is also good for local economy, but might be meaningless for enterprises intending to come, because they are not ones which want jobs. Moreover, this industrial aspect doesn't make sense for companies which belong to the other industries such as pharmaceutical or apparel industry.

The city is trying to expand through attracting companies which see research and development as a pivotal ingredient. This is also good for such kind of company, but cannot be an advantage for companies which don't have research and development function such as retailers or wholesalers.

The article is a weak argument because of the lack of clear selling points. If it focuses on manufacturers, rather than focusing on all companies, the argument will become more convincing and more logical.