美国国家公共电台 NPR Portugal Basks In Post-Bailout Economic Revival

 

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Now we have the results of a test of economic policy. Europe has spent years recovering from the financial crisis, and some nations adopted austerity programs. But a year and a half ago, a socialist¹ government in Portugal said the heck with, canceling austerity. And now the economy is growing. Lauren Frayer reports from Lisbon.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting in Portuguese²).

LAUREN FRAYER, BYLINE³: That's what Portugal used to sound like after its 2011 bailout. Thousands of people took to the streets to protest austerity. Unemployment was nearing 20 percent. And Mario Mouraz, like so many Portuguese youth, went abroad in search of work.

MARIO MOURAZ: We have three main models that give an overview⁴ of what...

FRAYER: But today he's back, in the glistening⁵ lobby of a posh Lisbon hotel, selling software to the hotel manager in the middle of a tourist boom. Mouraz is part of two new trends, fresh entrepreneurship and an uptick in tourism, that have fueled Portugal's economic recovery.

MOURAZ: My friends and people I know that were leaving the country more or less at same time I did - in 2011, 2012 - a lot of them came back already or want to come back. So they come full of motivation with knowledge from other countries.

FRAYER: And they're finding jobs. Unemployment has sunk to around 10 percent.

(CROSSTALK)

FRAYER: At home north of Lisbon, Ana Santana's playing with her toddler. Santana is a police officer whose salary and benefits were cut under austerity. But after a left-wing socialist coalition⁶ took power in late 2015...

ANA SANTANA: (Speaking Portuguese).

FRAYER: "We got our Christmas bonuses back," she says. The government also restored four paid public holidays for civil servants.

JOAO TAVARES: (Speaking Portuguese).

FRAYER: Her husband, Joao Tavares, says he expects his temporary contract with the municipality to be made permanent any day now, another promise by the socialists⁷. Leftists across Europe are applauding Portugal as vindication⁸ that austerity was not the only way. Under the socialists, Portugal's budget deficit⁹ has hit a 40-year low and wages are up.

MINISTER OF THE ECONOMY MANUEL CABRAL: Europe choose the line of austerity and had much worse results.

FRAYER: Economy minister Manuel Cabral says austerity slowed growth and job creation in Europe.

CABRAL: What we are showing is that with a policy that restricts income to the people in the moderate way, people get more confidence, and the investment returns.

FRAYER: Some economists¹⁰ are skeptical¹¹, though. Finance Professor Joao Duque says the government simply lucked out by being in office during double-digit growth in tourism.

JOAO DUQUE: So yeah, they are surfing the wave - which is good. OK. So far, so good. But things may get worse a bit more in the medium and long term. We have several weaknesses, several weaknesses.

FRAYER: Portugal doesn't export much - leather shoes, port wine. Public debt is still high, and most ratings agencies still classify Portuguese bonds as junk. Meanwhile, the police officer Ana Santana and her husband have moved into a larger apartment. With more job security, they're thinking about a second child.

SANTANA: (Speaking Portuguese).

FRAYER: Their quality of life has definitely improved, Santana says. But she hopes this isn't a bubble.

For NPR News, I'm Lauren Frayer in Lisbon.

(SOUNDBITE OF MENISCUS' "OVERHANG")

1 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

2 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 overview   

n.概观，概述

参考例句：

• The opening chapter gives a brief historical overview of transport.第一章是运输史的简要回顾。
• The seminar aims to provide an overview on new media publishing.研讨会旨在综览新兴的媒体出版。

5 glistening   

adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼里闪着晶莹的泪花。
• Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼睛中的泪水闪着柔和的光。 来自《用法词典》

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 socialists   

社会主义者( socialist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The socialists saw themselves as true heirs of the Enlightenment. 社会主义者认为自己是启蒙运动的真正继承者。
• The Socialists junked dogma when they came to office in 1982. 社会党人1982年上台执政后，就把其政治信条弃之不顾。

8 vindication   

n.洗冤，证实

参考例句：

• There is much to be said in vindication of his claim.有很多理由可以提出来为他的要求作辩护。
• The result was a vindication of all our efforts.这一结果表明我们的一切努力是必要的。

9 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

10 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》

11 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。