VOA标准英语2009-Economists Say Immigration is Key to Ending New

Some economists² warn that New Zealand will suffer if it cuts immigration because of the recession. As unemployment rises, there is growing pressure on the government to reduce its intake⁴ of skilled workers, imitating decisions made across the Tasman Sea in Australia.

Unemployment in New Zealand is at a six-year high and stands at five percent. The economy slipped into recession last year, well before many other developed countries, and the chances of a speedy recovery appear slim.

The International Monetary⁵ Fund expects the New Zealand economy to shrink by two percent this year.

Unions: scale back immigration program

Trade unions argue that in such dismal⁶ economic times the government in Wellington should reduce the level of skilled migration³ to protect local workers, especially in hard-hit industries such as construction.

Union officials think New Zealand should follow Australia's example and scale back its immigration program. Canberra cut migration levels by almost 15 percent because of the global economic slump⁷.

Some economists, however, think this is a short-sighted view.

British economist¹ Philippe Legrain says New Zealand needs to prepare now for economic recovery by keeping immigration strong. He says that new migrants are a lifeline to the world economy and a "launch pad" for recovery.

"Different people, with different experience, different ideas, different perspectives sparking off each other can create new solutions to problems, can help to innovate⁸ and it is precisely⁹ in a recession that businesses need to innovate in order to be prepared for the recovery," he said.

Some migrants complain they are being overlooked

Some well qualified¹⁰ migrants complain that they are being overlooked when applying for suitable positions in New Zealand.

Enoch, who arrived from Rwanda in 2002 armed with two university degrees and the ability to speak four languages, says it took him two years to find work.

He thinks companies in New Zealand are too ready to dismiss overseas qualifications and experience.

"When you have work experience that can be transferred to businesses here is what matters and sometime some employers do not look closely to the CVs to find what is really your experience and what you can do for their businesses," he said.

PM resists calls to scale back immigration

So far, New Zealand's conservative Prime Minister John Key seems likely to resists calls to scale back immigration. Mr. Key says that skilled foreign workers will help the country of just over four million people to eventually recover from its recession.

The largest groups of migrants settling in New Zealand come from Britain, China and Australia, followed by Samoa and India.

1 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

2 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

4 intake   

n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口

参考例句：

• Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。
• There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。

5 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

6 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

7 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

8 innovate   

v.革新，变革，创始

参考例句：

• We must innovate in order to make progress.我们必须改革以便取得进步。
• It is necessary to innovate and develop military theories.创新和发展军事理论是必要的。

9 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

10 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。