Mendota: I disagree. The average income for the lowest quintile may have increased by a greater percentage, but the absolute amount of the increase in average income was surely greater for the highest quintile.
Speaker 1 Summary
Larew concludes that the lowest income quintile experienced a greater increase in economic prosperity than did the highest income quintile. This is because the lowest quintile’s average income increased by a greater percentage than the highest quintile’s increased.
Speaker 2 Summary
Mendota concludes that the lowest quintile’s economic prosperity did not improve more than the highest quintile’s improved. This is because the lowest quintile’s average income increased by a lower absolute amount than did the highest quintile’s.
Objective
We’re looking for a disagreement. The speakers disagree about whether the lowest quintile’s economic prosperity improved more than did the highest quintile’s, and about whether increases in economic prosperity are better measured by the percentage increase in average income or by the absolute amount of an increase.
A
change in the economic prosperity of the lowest income quintile relative to the highest is accurately measured by comparing their percentage changes in average income
This is a point of disagreement. Larew thinks change in economic prosperity is accurately measured by reference to percentage changes in average income. Mendota believes change in economic prosperity should be measured instead by the absolute amount of changes in income.
B
change in the economic prosperity of the lowest income quintile is more accurately measured in terms relative to the highest income quintile than in terms relative only to the lowest income quintile
Neither expresses an opinion. The speakers happen to compare the lowest quintile to the highest quintile. That doesn’t imply a belief that this comparison results in a better measure of change in prosperity for the lowest quintile than would a comparison to some other quintile.
C
changes in the average income of people in the lowest quintile should ever be compared to changes in the average income of people in the highest quintile
The speakers agree. Both speakers compare changes in average income between the lowest quintile and the highest quintile. Larew compares percentage increases, while Mentoda compares increases in absolute amount.
D
there were any improvements at all in the economic situation of those in the lowest income quintile during the ten years being considered
Not a point of disagreement. Larew believes there was at least some improvement in the lowest quintile’s economic situation. Mendota could agree that there was at least some improvement, just not as much as the improvement experienced by the highest quintile.
E
the average income of people in the lowest quintile increased by a greater percentage over the last decade than did that of people in the highest quintile
The speakers agree. Both acknowledge that the average income of the lowest quintile increased by a greater percentage than did that of the highest quintile.