LSAT Explanation PT 34, S2, Q13: Essayist: One of the claims of

LSAT Question Stem

The essayist's argument depends on assuming which one of the following? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The argument in the passage is structured as follows:

Premise: One of the claims of laissez-faire economics is that increasing the minimum wage reduces the total number of minimum-wage jobs available.

Premise: A recent study found that after an increase in the minimum wage, fast-food restaurants kept on roughly the same number of minimum-wage employees as before the increase.

Conclusion: Therefore, laissez-faire economics is not entirely accurate.

The question type is Necessary Assumption, which means we are looking for an assumption that the essayist's argument depends on.

Let's first consider an "Evaluate" question for this argument: "Is the fast-food industry representative of minimum-wage job availability in general?" Answering this question would help us determine whether the argument is valid or not.

Now, let's analyze each answer choice:

a) If laissez-faire economics makes an incorrect prediction about the minimum wage, then all the doctrines of laissez-faire economics are inaccurate.

This answer choice is incorrect because the conclusion only states that laissez-faire economics is "not entirely accurate," not that all its doctrines are inaccurate.

b) Minimum-wage job availability at fast-food restaurants included in the study was representative of minimum-wage job availability in general.

This is the correct answer. The argument assumes that the fast-food industry is representative of minimum-wage job availability in general. If this assumption is false, then the argument's conclusion would be weakened.

c) No study has ever found that a business has decreased the number of its minimum-wage employees after an increase in the minimum wage.

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not depend on the assumption that no study has ever found a business decreasing minimum-wage employees after a wage increase. The conclusion is that laissez-faire economics is "not entirely accurate," which allows for some instances where businesses decrease minimum-wage employees after a wage increase.

d) The fast-food restaurants included in the study did not increase the average wage paid to employees.

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not depend on the assumption that the average wage paid to employees did not increase. The focus of the argument is on the number of minimum-wage jobs available, not the average wage paid.

e) The national unemployment rate did not increase following the increase in the minimum wage.

This answer choice is incorrect because the argument does not depend on the assumption that the national unemployment rate did not increase. The argument is focused on the number of minimum-wage jobs available, not the overall unemployment rate.

In conclusion, the correct answer is B because the argument depends on the assumption that the fast-food industry is representative of minimum-wage job availability in general. If this assumption is false, the argument's conclusion would be weakened.