The Economic Argument
Explanation
The Joke
A character presents "the economic argument" for some position, which turns out to be simply: "I will pay you to agree with me." The joke is that this is, technically, a valid economic argument — and arguably more honest than many real-world uses of economics to justify predetermined conclusions.
The Humor
The comic satirizes the way economic reasoning is often deployed rhetorically. In public discourse, people frequently cite "economic arguments" that are really just sophisticated rationalizations for policies they already support. By reducing "the economic argument" to its most literal and transactional form — bribery — Weinersmith cuts through the pretension.
There's also a layer of commentary on how economic incentives genuinely do drive behavior more reliably than moral arguments, making the "I'll pay you" approach arguably more effective than most policy debates.
Recurring Theme
Economics is one of the most frequent targets of SMBC humor. Weinersmith often explores the tension between economic theory (which assumes rational actors) and human behavior (which is anything but rational).