VOA标准英语2013--IMF: Global Economic Prospects Improve But Recovery Is 'Bumpy' for Some

 

IMF: Global Economic Prospects¹ Improve But Recovery Is 'Bumpy²' for Some

The rise of emerging economies, a stagnant³ Europe and the plight⁴ of the world's poor takes center stage as international and financial policy leaders meet in Washington. 

While economic growth continues at a healthy pace in developing nations, advanced economies are facing a bumpy road to recovery, says IMF Chief Economist⁵ Olivier Blanchard.

"I think the main challenge is still very much, in Europe," said Blanchard. "The U.S. is doing better, emerging markets are doing fairly well, Europe is still the issue.

The IMF says ongoing⁶ debt problems in the region and the recent banking⁷ crisis in Cyprus are likely to keep the 17-nation eurozone in a mild recession until at least next year.

In contrast, China is forecast to grow eight percent this year with developing economies following close behind. Blanchard says that doesn't mean emerging economies are immune, especially those that depend on exports.

"The main challenge for them is to deal with what's happening in advanced countries," he said. "And what this means is fluctuations⁸ in trade, capital markets - very volatile⁹, capital flows coming to them. They basically have to handle the capital flows, they have to maintain activity, avoid overheating.

For the world's largest economy, the outlook is for a slow but steady recovery.

Despite government spending cuts in the U.S. earlier this year, Blanchard says several factors should lead to stronger growth in 2014.

"The first one is very strong monetary¹⁰ policy, which makes the [interest] rates very low," said Blanchard. "The second is a banking system which is not yet in perfect shape but is much stronger than it used to be. And then the third is this thing economists¹¹ call, pent-up demand.

Despite what he calls a three-speed global recovery, Blanchard says the world's economy is only as strong as its weakest link.

Later in the week - the World Bank addresses one of the biggest challenges to global growth - unemployment.

1 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

2 bumpy   

adj.颠簸不平的，崎岖的

参考例句：

• I think we've a bumpy road ahead of us.我觉得我们将要面临一段困难时期。
• The wide paved road degenerated into a narrow bumpy track.铺好的宽阔道路渐渐变窄，成了一条崎岖不平的小径。

3 stagnant   

adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的

参考例句：

• Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少，工业生产一直停滞不前。
• Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。

4 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

5 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。

6 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

7 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

8 fluctuations   

波动，涨落，起伏( fluctuation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table. 他用统计表显示价格的波动。
• There were so many unpredictable fluctuations on the Stock Exchange. 股票市场瞬息万变。

9 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

10 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。

11 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》