VOA标准英语2009年-IMF: Global Meltdown Worse Than Expected

The Managing Director of the International Monetary¹ Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, warns that the world economy will further decline this year. Strauss-Kahn says Germany's biggest stimulus² package since World War II offers some hope, although he cautions that Europe lags behind the United States in enacting³ measures to stem the economic crisis. He spoke⁴ after meeting officials in Hungary, which has received a multi-billion dollar rescue package.
　
International Monetary Fund's Managing Director, Dominique Straus-Kahn in Budapest, 13 Jan 2009

The International Monetary Fund's Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, offered reporters a grim outlook for the global economy this year.

He said the world economy is slowing more than the IMF had predicted and he warned that this will have a severe impact on Central and Eastern European economies.

"All of us are worried and concerned about the future," said Dominique Strauss-Kahn. "The reason for that is that the forecasts, the global forecasts, on a global level for 2009 are rather bad forecasts. The IMF is going to release its own, new set of forecasts in a couple of days. I already know that it will show a sharp decrease in the estimates we have for global growth. And a decrease for global growth means a decrease [for] everybody - including in Central Europe and in Hungary."

In November, the International Monetary Fund lowered its projections⁵ for world economic growth to a little more than two percent, and said industrialized economies were headed for the first full-year of economic decline since World War II.

But the IMF says Germany's economic stimulus package should help not only Germany, but also much of Western and Eastern Europe.

The $67-billion rescue plan, unveiled by German Chancellor⁶ Angela Merkel on Tuesday, includes investment in schools and infrastructure⁷, simpler rules for creating temporary jobs and up to roughly $130 billion in loan guarantees for struggling firms.

But the IMF's Dominique Strauss-Kahn made clear that Europe's response to the economic crisis lags behind U.S. efforts, as President-elect Barack Obama seeks approval to disburse⁸ the second half of a $700 billion economic rescue package.

"As you know, the U.S is planning, the new administration is planning, a huge stimulus plan," he said. "And, answering your question, what has been decided⁹ on at a European level, is in line, but probably a little behind the curve. Of course, the new German plan, which comes on top of the rest, makes us more comfortable. So I have to see a little more what there is in this 50 billion euro [$67 billion plan]. But obviously, it is a strong effort made by the German government and it would be very much helpful."

Strauss-Khan spoke after talks with the struggling Hungarian government about its troubled economy. Hungary has received an IMF-led $25- illion rescue package, but Strauss-Kahn said other former Communist countries, including Ukraine, will also need help.

He praised Hungary's efforts to jump start its economy, but said Budapest and other regional capitals will need to implement¹⁰ "structural¹¹ reforms".

Just outside Hungary's parliament building where Strauss-Kahn spoke, people have mixed feelings about the IMF's role in their country.

Banker Bela Viszontaly say he does not expect people's lives will improve soon.

"I think it doesn't depend on the IMF," said Bela Viszontaly. "The life was difficult, and is difficult. This year, we await unemployment of about 10 percent."

Attorney Roberta Pal¹² says she believes Hungary's economy can improve only if the billions of dollars in loans from the IMF are spent wisely.

"I don't know," said Roberta Pal. "It depends on the political leadership. But if we don't change our approach on deciding on what we spend, then these amounts, it's just a waste of money and a waste of time."

For now, experts say governments across the globe will likely ask for more cash from the IMF to help rescue their struggling economies.

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 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

3 enacting   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Generally these statutes apply only to wastes from reactors outside the enacting state. 总之，这些法令只适宜用在对付那些来自外州的核废料。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• In addition, the complexion of enacting standards for live working is described. 另外，介绍了带电作业标准的制订情况。

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 projections   

预测( projection的名词复数 )； 投影； 投掷； 突起物

参考例句：

• Their sales projections are a total thumbsuck. 他们的销售量预测纯属估计。
• The council has revised its projections of funding requirements upwards. 地方议会调高了对资金需求的预测。

6 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 disburse   

v.支出，拨款

参考例句：

• Cashiers receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions.除了金融机构，出纳员也会在一些社会机构里收款付款。
• On approval,we will disburse the fund to your designated bank account directly.一经批核，贷款将于扣除手续费后直接存入您指定的银行账户。

9 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

10 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

11 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。

12 pal   

n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友

参考例句：

• He is a pal of mine.他是我的一个朋友。
• Listen,pal,I don't want you talking to my sister any more.听着，小子，我不让你再和我妹妹说话了。