VOA标准英语10月-US Economist Paul Krugman Wins Nobel Prize

American economist¹ Paul Krugman won this year's Nobel economics award, the last in a series of 2008 Nobels handed out over the past week. From Paris, Lisa Bryant reports for VOA that Krugman was cited by the Nobel committee for his analysis of how economies of scale can affect trade patterns and the location of economic activity.
　

Paul Krugman

The Nobel committee awarded this year's Nobel to Princeton University professor Paul Krugman for his theories to answer questions about free trade and globalization. Among other things, the committee said in its statement, Krugman's ideas were based on economies of scale - that it's cheaper to produce things in mass.

And his theories also explain why trade is dominated by countries with similar economic conditions and countries that trade in similar products. The committee said Sweden - which both imports and makes cars - is a case in point.

In a telephone interview after the announcement, the U.S. economist said the award would enhance his visibility. And he described the current global economic turmoil² as terrifying.

Krugman comments on politics as well as economics as an analyst³ for the New York Times newspaper. He has sharply criticised the Bush administration on a number of
issues - including the US-led war in Iraq.

Krugman spoke⁴ on ABC Television on Sunday before he won the Nobel prize and was asked about the world coming together to solve the current financial crisis.

"I mean, if something doesn't come out by late today, you know, I mean we don't know but it's very scary, and I have to say it's been really disappointing," Krugman said. "The communique, the big G-7, the big powers, released a communique on Friday which was boilerplate; it was not an actual plan, it was.... in fact, if you're used to reading communiques which alas⁵ I am, it had all the signs of basic disagreements papered over, so this is not good. You know, at each stage during this crisis, policy has been less than people expected, and that builds up a cumulative⁶ loss of credibility here. You know, I just heard someone this morning that somebody from Treasury⁷ is saying 'well we plan to begin these equity⁸ injections into banks within two weeks.' Two weeks! You know, Gordon Brown in Britain announced a plan on Wednesday, and they're going to do the equity injections in Britain tomorrow."

Krugman's $1.4 million award ends the series of Nobels for this year. Last week, the Nobels for physics, chemistry, mathematics, literature and peace were awarded.

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 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

3 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

6 cumulative   

adj.累积的，渐增的

参考例句：

• This drug has a cumulative effect.这种药有渐增的效力。
• The benefits from eating fish are cumulative.吃鱼的好处要长期才能显现。

7 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

8 equity   

n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票

参考例句：

• They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。
• To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。