国际货币基金组织:西方制裁可能会损害俄罗斯经济

AS IT IS 2015-08-07 IMF: Western Sanctions Could Hurt Russia’s Economy 国际货币基金组织:西方制裁可能会损害俄罗斯经济

The International Monetary¹ Fund says sanctions linked to the crisis in Ukraine could end up hurting Russia’s economy. The IMF says the sanctions could lead to a nine percent drop in Russia’s gross domestic product or GDP -- the value of all its goods and services.

The Russian economy shrank over the past year because of Western measures aimed at punishing Russia for its actions in Ukraine. Russian measures against the West also hurt the economy. In addition, low prices for oil exports increased pressure on the value of Russian money and the country’s finances.

Now, the Russian economy is showing signs of stabilization². The economy no longer appears to be as weak as it once was.

Last year, Western countries ordered restrictions³ that limited financing for major Russian banks and energy companies. The West also restricted high-technology exports to Russia’s energy industry. In reaction, the Russian government banned imports of most Western food products.

The International Monetary Fund estimated the immediate⁴ effect of sanctions and Russian actions against the West reduced Russia’s GDP by up to 1.5 percent. The IMF said its estimate rose to nine percent over the next few years. But IMF officials said their findings were based on economic models, and they could change.

The IMF also predicted “weak” economic growth of about 1.5 percent a year in Russia over the next few years. The economy was growing about seven percent a year before the world financial crisis in 2008.

The IMF said, “Slow-moving structural⁵ reforms, sluggish⁶ investment and adverse⁷ population dynamics⁸ are all part of the picture.” It urged Russia to reduce the involvement of the state in the economy, protect property rights and increase competition.

The IMF said Russia would return to economic growth next year as a weaker value for its money increased competitiveness and overseas demand increased. It also predicted that financial conditions in the country would normalize.

The Fund also predicted a growth rate of two-tenths of one percent next year following shrinkage of 3.4 percent this year.

Inflation was predicted to slow to about 12 percent by the end of this year and then eight percent by the end of next year.

The IMF praised the central bank’s policy of reducing its main interest rate in line with underlying⁹ inflation. But, it added that the rate of reductions needed to be “prudent¹⁰.”

Words in this Story

sanction(s) – n. a measure designed to punish someone or something

stabilization – n. efforts to end a crisis or a worsening of conditions; steps to help a sick or injured person

sluggish – adj. moving very slowly

adverse – adj. preventing development or success; harmful

dynamic(s) – n. a force leading to change

prudent – adj. showing care and thought for the future

1 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。

2 Stabilization   

稳定化

参考例句：

• The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
• With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

6 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

7 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

8 dynamics   

n.力学，动力学，动力，原动力；动态

参考例句：

• In order to succeed,you must master complicated knowledge of dynamics.要取得胜利，你必须掌握很复杂的动力学知识。
• Dynamics is a discipline that cannot be mastered without extensive practice.动力学是一门不做大量习题就不能掌握的学科。

9 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

10 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。