2019-04-07

The independence of central banks is under threat from politics
That is bad news for the world
原文来源：The Economist 2019-4-13

Article

https://frankzhougq.github.io/article/TE-2019-04-07/

Notes

its abstract theories lack real-world pay-offs
抽象的理论缺乏现实的回报，即没卵用

a glaring counter-example
非常明显的反例

the global rise of central-bank independence in the past 25 years
独立性的提升

the interest rates on their bank deposits and mortgages are under control.
银行存款和抵押贷款的利率

a confluence of populism, nationalism and economic forces
事物的汇合汇集

President Donald Trump has demanded that interest rates should be slashed
利率应该削减

rubbish the competence and motives of the Bank of England
rubbish做动词，to criticize sb/ sth severely or treat them as though they are of no value 狠批；把…看得一文不值；能力与动机
Ex：rubbish the competence and motives of the governer

has been in a tug-of-war with the central bank
拔河，比喻双方激烈的争夺

up for grabs

up for 'grabs： (informal) available for anyone who is interested 提供的；可供争夺的
There are ￡25 000 worth of prizes up for grabs in our competition!
在我们的比赛中有 25 000 英镑奖金供人争夺！

There is a genuine need for reflection on central banks’ objectives and tools.
真的有必要对something进行反思了
Ex：There is a genuine need for reflection on our education system

dangerous forces are afoot
计划中

alarming consequences
令人恐慌的

the post-war Bretton Woods currency system collapsed
战后布雷顿森林体系

Two decades of runaway prices and crises
失控的价格和危机

The fraying of central banks’ independence has several causes.
名词：磨损，对独立性的削弱

undermining voters’ faith in the technocrats whose loyalty is supposedly to the public interest.
削弱对something的信任；技术官僚；被认为是对公共利益忠诚的

Pressure is manifesting itself in different ways in different places.

manifest itself (in sth)： to appear or become noticeable 显现；使人注意到 SYNAPPEAR
The symptoms of the disease manifested themselves ten days later.
十天后，这种病的症状显现出来。

launched an attack on the Fed
发动进攻

seeking an edge
微弱的优势

That will store up problems.

store sth↔'up： to not express strong feelings or deal with problems when you have them, especially when this causes problems later （把强烈的感情或问题）郁积，憋在心里
She had stored up all her anger and eventually snapped.
她所有的愤怒郁积在一起，终于爆发了。
By ignoring your feelings you are only storing up trouble for yourself.
你回避自己的感情，将来会有麻烦的。

an economic downturn.
经济衰退

The world economy has decelerated this year
世界经济减速了

pep up their economies.

pep sb/ sth↔'up： (informal) to make sb/ sth more interesting or full of energy 增加…的趣味；使兴致勃勃；激励；使活跃 SYNLIVEN UP
Pep up meals by adding more unusual spices.
加些特别的调料使饭菜味道更佳。
A walk in the fresh air will pep you up.
在清新空气中散散步会使你精神振奋。

politicians really want a considered debate
a considered opinion

a considered opinion, reply, judgment etc is one that you have thought about carefully

a flavour of what could go wrong.

a/the flavour of sth: an idea of what sth is like 像…的想法
I have tried to convey something of the flavour of the argument.
我试图表达某种类似论据的东西。