Nereim 1

Abrun Nereim
ENC1101
Professor Wylie
21 September 2014
The main claim held within the editorial Raise That Wage by Paul Krugman is that the
standard minimum wage rate in the United States of $7.25 an hour should be raised to $9, with
subsequent increases in line with inflation. Krugman does not shy away from any sort of bias in
his proposition either as he is particularly up front about his political beliefs as well as his
credentials. He presents his own personal political alignment with relative transparency as he
advocates several aspects of President Obamas ideas within the Presidents State of the Union
Address and simultaneously criticizes the decisions of the Republican controlled House of
Representatives. The immediate statement of political alignment only strengthens the
presentation of his own credentials as it focuses on the clear cut qualifications Mr. Krugman
displays whilst acknowledging any preexisting bias of his own. In tandem, these tools of rhetoric
the author utilizes serve to convince the reader that despite apparent bias, Krugman believes in
an objectively relevant claim: the minimum wage should be raised.
In order to convince readers that his argument is valid, Krugman must establish his own
credibility. He proceeds to develop his ethical appeal by mentioning to the reader that he has
literally written the book on economics: he has his own series of academically published texts on
the subject of economics. In reminding the reader of this fact, Krugman is able to reinforce the
idea that despite his inherent bias, the idea of raising the minimum wage makes sense from an

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objective economic perspective. As Krugman promotes his claim that the minimum wage should
be increased to 9$ an hour, he makes the increase appear more reasonable by including a more
drastic, hyperbolic proposition of $20 per hour. By simply suggesting that such an idea is extant,
the reader feels that the proposed increase to $9 an hour seems more reasonable by contrast.
At the same time Krugman states the reasonable nature of an increase to $9 an hour being
proposed, he also advocates the lack of repercussions of the policy proposal. Krugman bases
this claim on a lagging minimum wage (which has lagged for the past four decades) and in
increase in worker productivity of one-hundred percent. These two pieces of evidence together
present the reader with a situation where an increase in the minimum wage appears
reasonable.
Krugman subsequently pushes past the potential negative effects of his proposal in order
to focus on the positive effects it offers. Relying on his own reputation, Krugman explicitly states
that such an increase in the minimum wage would have overwhelmingly positive effects. He
reinforces this claim with a complimentary claim: the present minimum wage level is very low by
any reasonable standard. By making this claim in regards to any reasonable standard,
Krugman appeals to the reason of the reader which serves to develop his appeal to logos. Thus,
the entire paragraph which accompanies this claim includes nothing but factual and
mathematical evidence. In concluding this paragraph, Krugman includes the rhetorical question:
Isnt it time for a raise? This question intends to challenge the reader to ask the question he
presents throughout the entire article just after Krugman presents the reader with a collection of
mathematical evidence reinforcing the central claim. Krugman couples this rhetorical question

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with an argument which he logically constructs in order to guide his readers to his
conclusion of raising the minimum wage.
In supplementary appeal to the logical thought of the reader, Krugman provides evidence
to support his claim made prior addressing potential concerns of the readers such as lost jobs
as the undesirable result of an increased minimum wage. Krugman argues that according to
natural and neutral studies conducted with the United States, an increase in the minimum wage
points to little if any negative effect on preexisting jobs in the United States. Such suppositions
by the author rely on preexisting evidence and studies conducted on the subject matter and thus
serve to develop the authors logos. Krugman uses the phrase natural and neutral to assure
the reader the studies he cites are reliable.
As Krugman admits that such relevant research is indeed ongoing, he also develops an
appeal to pathos as he focuses on the humanity of workers; he works with the empathy of the
readers of his article and suggests that workers arent bushels of wheat or even Manhattan
apartments; theyre human beings. This emotional appeal complements his rational appeal as
Krugman is able to identify with both potential readers: those who identify with text
predominantly logically, and those who identify with text predominantly emotionally. This
emotional appeal continues as Krugman characterizes the population as hard-working, but
underpaid. Such a supposition suggests an injustice which directs toward the portion of the
working class earning minimum wage. This claim specifically appeals to this group in an
emotionally significant way.To the rest of Krugmans audience, such a claim exists as a
reasonable argument with insubstantial repercussions.

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Following this claim, Krugman proceeds to support additional liberal tax policies which
adhere to the theme of his article: benefits aimed at the underpaid working class yield positive
results. Krugman acknowledges a preexisting defect of an existing tax benefit aimed at the
underpaid working class and claims that the increase in the minimum wage he advocates
serves to adjust and correct this defect. This acknowledgement develops his ethical appeal as
he admits flaws in the current state of social benefits for the group he is representing; the new
proposition he advocates serves to fix the flaws he acknowledges. As Krugman develops this
idea, he undermines the credibility of the party which directly opposes the proposition he is
promoting. He claims that any objection held by the opposing partys claims rely on faulty logic,
reinforcing his own point from a logical perspective. This undermining is accompanied by the
overt suggestion of disdain for the low-wage workers from Republican leaders. Such a
suggestion develops Krugmans appeal to pathos as he appeals to readers natural empathetic
feeling for the underpaid working class. Such claims also serve to vilify Republican leaders who
exist as Krugmans primary opposition to the argument he presents.
In concluding his own article and argument, Krugman separates the majority of readers
from his opposition in saying the good news is that not many Americans share that disdain.
Such a statement appeals to the patriotism of the readers by suggesting people who typically
identify themselves as American typically do not disagree with him. As Krugman ends his
article, he amplifies this point by further alienating male Republicans as the party in the wrong.
Krugman also ends the entire article by reiterating the point he propagates throughout the
article: the minimum wage should be raised. This final inclusion finalizes the relation within the

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readers head between the article itself and the point being made: the minimum wage should be
raised.
Krugmans article weaves, from start to finish, a fine lattice of rhetoric. Within the article
Krugman develops his own credibility, logical appeal, and emotional appeal. He accomplishes
this as he presents objective information as a reliable source through the credible credentials in
place. While doing this, he subtly includes appeals to pathos as some of the evidence he
presents is also emotionally evocative. Using a combination of each of these appeals, Krugman
is able to craft a well-developed and convincing argumentative piece on why the minimum wage
should be raised.