B3U3T1 Job Insecurity and the Welfare State in a Globalized World
文本细读
商务英语综合教程
On April 10, 2006, French President Jacques Chirac surrendered to public pressure and withdrew the First Employment Contract (known as the CPE – the Contrat Première Embauche in French) after days of protests by student groups and labor unions. The proposed law, which was designed to combat France's 22.2 percent youth unemployment rate, would have allowed firms the freedom to hire workers under the age of 26 on a trial basis for the first two years, during which period employers could also fire such workers more easily than current laws permit.
On April 10, 2006, French President Jacques Chirac surrendered to public pressure and withdrew the First Employment Contract (known as the CPE – the Contrat Première Embauche in French) after days of protests by student groups and labor unions.
- Jacques Chirac 雅克·希拉克,法国前总统 介绍可以看这里
- surrender to:屈服于、屈从于
- public pressure:公众压力
- withdraw:take back (a promise, an offer, a statement, etc); retract 撤回或撤消(诺言﹑ 提议﹑ 言论等): Unless the contract is signed immediately, I shall withdraw my offer. 若不立即签署合同我就撤回我提出的条件. * I insist that you withdraw your offensive remarks immediately. 我要求你必须立刻收回那些过头的话.
- First Employment Contract: 具体介绍可以看这里 (对应的法文就是Contrat Premiere Embauche,个人认为这里无需深究)
- days of:[many] days of
- protest: statement or anaction that shows one's strong dispproval or disagreement 抗议; 抗议活动;示威游行
- student groups and labor unions 学生团体和工会组织
The proposed law, which was designed to combat France's 22.2 percent youth unemployment rate, would have allowed firms the freedom to hire workers under the age of 26 on a trial basis for the first two years, during which period employers could also fire such workers more easily than current laws permit.
- proposed:被提议的、被建议的
- 注意这句话的时态:was designed to,表示提议之前,是这样设计的,用过去式;would have allowed 虚拟语气,原本将会使……
- combat: (a) fight or struggle against sb/sth 与(某人[某事物])战斗, 斗争, 搏斗: combat the enemy 与敌人作战. (b) try to reduce, weaken or destroy sth 试图减少﹑ 减弱或消灭(某事物): combating disease, inflation, terrorism 与疾病﹑ 通货膨胀﹑ 恐怖主义作斗争.
- youth unemployment rate:青年失业率
- allow ... to do: 使……可以/能够,允许……去做 | allow firms the freedom to hire ... 使公司拥有雇佣……的自由
- on a trial basis:试行,这里的 on a trial basis for the first two years 指的是允许让公司雇佣26岁以下的青年,并且前两年为试用期
- during which period ... :关系从句,这个which period指的就是前面降到的the first two years的试用期
The government believed that France's complex and inflexible labor laws – a high minimum wage, high payroll taxes, generous benefits, and an onerous labor code, all enshrined in many different contracts and numerous collective bargaining agreements; served as a disincentive to hiring young, untested workers. A previous incarnation of the law, the New Employment Contract, applied similar provisions to small businesses with fewer than 20 employees and had successfully created up to 400,000 new jobs.
The government believed that France's complex and inflexible labor laws – a high minimum wage, high payroll taxes, generous benefits, and an onerous labor code, all enshrined in many different contracts and numerous collective bargaining agreements; served as a disincentive to hiring young, untested workers.
- minimum wage:最低工资
- payroll tax:工资税 | payroll:工资单
- generous benefits:given freely; plentiful 慷慨给予的; 大量的; 丰富的: a generous gift, offer, increase 丰厚的礼物、慷慨的提议、大量的增加
- onerous: needing effort; burdensome 艰巨的; 繁重的: onerous duties 繁重的职务 * This is the most onerous task I have ever undertaken. 这是我承担过的最艰巨的任务.
- labor code:劳动法 | onerous labor code:繁复的劳动法
- enshrine:serve as a shrine for (sth) 作为神龛以保存(某物): The constitution enshrines the basic rights of all citizens. 宪法中神圣地记载着全体公民的基本权利.
- collective bargaining:集体协商/谈判,劳资双方代表进行的谈判
- 句子主干:the government believed that France's complex and inflexible labor laws served as disincentive to ... workers. 中间的破折号后面一直到agreement是用来形容complex and inflexible labor laws的
- serve as:用作、作为
- disincentive:名词 ~ (to sth) thing that discourages an action or effort 阻碍行动或发展的事物; 遏制因素: Fixed wages and lack of promotion act as a disincentive to employees. 工资固定又无晋升机会遏制了雇员的积极性.
- untested:未经过测试或考验的
A previous incarnation of the law, the New Employment Contract, applied similar provisions to small businesses with fewer than 20 employees and had successfully created up to 400,000 new jobs.
- incarnation: embodiment; person that prominently displays a particular quality (突出表现某种品质的)典型人物, 化身 | 这里可以理解为“体现形式”,就是该法案的上一个表现形式是the New Employment Contract
- apply: make (a law, etc) operate or become effective 使(法律等)实施或生效; 应用; 运用: apply a law/rule/precept 执行法律[规则/规程] * apply economic sanctions 施行经济制裁. | apply ... to ...
- provision: condition or stipulation in a legal document (法律文件中的)规定, 条款: under the provisions of the agreement 根据协议的条文 * She accepted the contract with the provision that it would be revised after a year. 她同意签订这合同, 其中规定一年之後得加以修订.
Opponents of the government's strategy, including the millions of students and unionists who marched against it in the streets of Paris, called the law a betrayal by the French state and claimed the new measure would just make it easier for employers to hire cheap, disposable labor and keep young people in an unsteady netherworld of partial employment.
Opponents of the government's strategy, including the millions of students and unionists who marched against it in the streets of Paris, called the law a betrayal by the French state and claimed the new measure would just make it easier for employers to hire cheap, disposable labor and keep young people in an unsteady netherworld of partial employment.
- opponent: ~ (of sth) person who is against sth and tries to change or destroy it 反对者: a fierce opponent of nuclear arms 强烈反对核武器的人 * opponents of abortion 反对堕胎的人.
- unionist: member of a trade union or supporter of trade unions 工会会员; 拥护工会的人
- march against ... 因反对……而示威游行
- betrayal:背叛
- state:(esp 尤作 the State)[U] civil government of a country 政府; 国家: matters/affairs of state 国家大事[事务] * Church and State 教会和政府 * railways run by the state/state-run railways 国营铁路 * Many believe the State should provide schools, homes and hospitals for everyone. 许多人认为国家应该为全民提供学校教育﹑ 住房以及医疗服务.
- claim: state or declare (sth) as a fact (without being able to prove it); assert 声称; 宣称; 断言: claim knowledge (ie to have knowledge) of sth 自称知道某事 * After the battle both sides claimed victory. 战斗结束後, 双方均宣称获胜.
- measure: action taken to achieve a purpose 措施; 步骤; 办法: measures against crime 打击犯罪活动的措施 * safety measures 安全措施
- disposable:made to be thrown away after use 用完即可丢弃的; 一次性的: disposable razors, nappies, syringes, plates 一次性的剃刀﹑ 尿片﹑ 注射器﹑ 盘子 | 这里的 cheap, disposable labor指的就是廉价并且可以随意解雇的人力
- netherworld:原意是阴间、冥界,这里的netherworld是这个意思:If you refer to a place as a netherworld, you mean that it is dangerous and full of poor people and criminals. | nether- 表示“下面的”,如nethermost:最下面的 the Netherlands 荷兰(字面义:低海拔的地方)
- partial employment:部分就业。我个人的理解就是,一会儿有工作、一会儿没工作
When President Chirac decided to revoke the CPE after just eight days on the books, replacing it with a package of subsidies, some commentators labeled the action a humiliation for the government, a triumph of mob rule and of the entitlement mentality. Some lamented the public reaction as a sign of the "depth of popular misunderstanding regarding the realities of our globalizing economy."
When President Chirac decided to revoke the CPE after just eight days on the books, replacing it with a package of subsidies, some commentators labeled the action a humiliation for the government, a triumph of mob rule and of the entitlement mentality.
- revoke:withdraw or cancel (a decree, permit, etc) 撤消或废除(法令等); 吊销(许可证): revoke orders, promises 撤消命令、允诺 * His driving licence was revoked after the crash. 他撞车後驾驶执照吊销了.
- on the books: 有案可查;载入名册 例如:Is the law what is on the books, or what is actually enacted and obeyed in a society? 这项法律究竟只是纸面上规定的,还是实际在社会中执行并遵守的?
- replace ... with ... 用……替换……
- package:what is offered or accepted as a whole 一整批的,一整套的,成批的,一揽子的
- subsidy:money paid, esp by a government, to help an industry, to support the arts, to keep prices down, etc 补助金; (尤指政府为扶持工业﹑ 资助艺术事业﹑ 平抑物价等而发放的)津贴, 补贴: food subsidies, eg to reduce the price of basic foods 食品补贴(如用以降低基本食品的价格)
- commentator:评论员、解说员、时事评论者
- label ... (as) ...: (fig 比喻) describe or classify sb/sth 描述某人[某事物]; 将某人[某事物]归类: His work is difficult to label accurately. 他的工作很难准确归类. * She is usually labelled (as) an Impressionist. 人们通常把她称为印象派艺术家.
- humiliation: 丢脸,耻辱;蒙羞
- triumph: 成功或胜利
- mob rule: 暴民统治
- of the entitlement mentality也是跟在a triumph后面的
- entitlement:entitle:使某人有资格获得某事物或做某事 entitlement:有资格;有权利得到的东西;另外,entitlement也有政府津贴的意思。这里的entitlement mentality指的是一种“理所应当的心态”,认为政府理所应当应该补贴自己,这是自己应得的。entitlement mentality在网上有很多个翻译的版本,例如:白拿有理心态、应得权益心态、应得福利心态、应得权利心态等
Some lamented the public reaction as a sign of the "depth of popular misunderstanding regarding the realities of our globalizing economy."
- lament:feel or express great sorrow or regret for (sb/sth) 为(某人[某事物])感到悲痛; 哀悼; 痛惜: lament loudly 哀嚎 * lament (for) a dead friend 哀悼亡友 * lament (over) one's misfortunes 悲叹自己的不幸 * lament the passing of old ways 浩叹古风的沉沦
- depth of popular misunderstanding: very deep misunderstanding that is believed by most people
- regarding: concerning, in reference to, with respect to 关于、关乎
- reality:[C often pl 常作复数] 这里是可数名词 thing that is actually experienced or seen; thing that is real 实际经历或目睹过的事物: the harsh realities (eg poverty, misery, etc) of unemployment 失业的严酷现实 * He cannot grasp the realities of the situation. 他未能掌握实际情况. * The plan will soon become a reality, ie will be carried out. 这计画不久就要化为现实.
- globalizing economy:正在全球化的经济
On a deeper level, the reaction against reforms to France's labor laws is indicative of deeper anxieties, broadly held in Europe and elsewhere, about how the forces of globalization are impacting the stability of the welfare state. In the eyes of many, the swifter the currents of globalization, the more fiercely the continental Europeans cling to the traditions of the welfare state, "While most of the world struggles to cope with the shifting threats and opportunities of an increasingly global economy, much of Europe, and France in particular, remains devoted to a quasi-socialist ideal." According to Dominique Moisi, "The French produce 'ideas and dreams' and they challenge the assumption of the liberal and market-oriented order by their refusal to accept change in the name of economic flexibility."
On a deeper level, the reaction against reforms to France's labor laws is indicative of deeper anxieties, broadly held in Europe and elsewhere, about how the forces of globalization are impacting the stability of the welfare state.
- on a deeper level: 从更深一层次讲
- reaction:opposition to (esp political) progress or reform 反对(尤指政治的)进步或改革; 反动: The forces of reaction made reform difficult. 反动势力给改革造成了困难.
- reform to ...
- labor law: 劳动法
- be indicative of: showing or suggesting sth 表示或暗示某事物: Is a large head indicative of high intelligence? 头部大是不是表示智慧高? * Their failure to act is indicative of their lack of interest/indicative that they have no interest in the problem. 他们没采取行动, 表明他们对这个问题不感兴趣.
- broadly: widly, generally
- about how the forces of ...是跟在anxieties后面的
- impact:have an effect on sth 对某事物有影响
- welfare state:福利国家
In the eyes of many, the swifter the currents of globalization, the more fiercely the continental Europeans cling to the traditions of the welfare state
- in the eyes of many [people]
- 整句结构:the swifter ..., the more fiercely ...: ……越快、……就越猛
- swift:快的、迅速的
- current:名词,原意指水或空气的流动,这里是指: course or movement (of events, opinions, etc); trend (事件﹑ 见解等的)趋向, 趋势, 倾向: Nothing disturbs the peaceful current of life in the village. 没有任何事干扰村里一向平静的生活. * We must try to counteract the present current of anti-government feeling. 我们应该努力消除目前的这股反政府情绪.
- continental European:欧陆的,continental Europe:欧洲大陆,指的是去除了英国、希腊群岛等岛屿的欧洲部分
- cling:~ (on) to sth be unwilling to abandon sth; refuse to give sth up 舍不得放弃某事物; 拒绝放弃某事物: cling to a belief, an opinion, a theory, etc 坚持一种信仰、意见、理论等 * cling to one's possessions 舍不得放弃财物
- 在许多人眼中,全球化的洪流速度越快,欧洲大陆就越固执地固守福利社会的传统。
While most of the world struggles to cope with the shifting threats and opportunities of an increasingly global economy, much of Europe, and France in particular, remains devoted to a quasi-socialist ideal.
- cope with:deal with
- shifting:changing frequently,always changing | the shifting threats and opportunities: 瞬息万变的威胁与机遇
- in particular:尤其
- quasi-:seemingly but not really 类似; 准; 半: a quasi-scientific explanation 类似科学的解释 * a quasi-scholar 似学者的人
- socialist:社会主义的(国外一般认为,所谓“社会主义”,有一个典型特征就是高福利)
According to Dominique Moisi, "The French produce 'ideas and dreams' and they challenge the assumption of the liberal and market-oriented order by their refusal to accept change in the name of economic flexibility."
- Dominique Moisi:法国政治学家多米尼克- •莫伊西
- challenge:question the truth, rightness or validity of (sth); dispute 怀疑(某事)的真实性﹑正确性或有效性; 提出异议: challenge sb's authority/right to do sth 怀疑某人是否有权力[权利]做某事 * challenge a claim, an assertion, a verdict 对某要求﹑ 主张﹑ 判决质疑 * This new discovery challenges traditional beliefs. 这项新的发现对传统观念提出了异议.
- assumption:thing accepted as true or as sure to happen, but not proved 假定; 假设; 设想: The theory is based on a series of wrong assumptions. 这一理论是以一系列错误的设想为根据的.
- liberal and market-oriented order 自由的,并且是以市场为导向的[经济]秩序
- refusal to accept change: 拒绝接受改变
- in the name of: 以……为名、凭借……的权威
- economic flexibility:经济的灵活性
French resistance to change largely stems from a very different conception of the social contract between the citizen and the state in the realm of job security. On this subject, Philippe d'Iribarne, author of French Strangeness, has remarked, "In the American imagination, the relationship between a worker and employer is that of a supplier and a client … In France, when people work they say they have a 'situation,' which they expect to endure for life." The function of the state under this model is, above all else, to "make sure that workers are taken care of" in hopes of creating a "healthier, more humane society" than is possible in more fully liberalized economies. The pervasive role of the French government in employment is reinforced by the fact that 25 percent of the country's workforce is employed in the public sector, with 45 percent of the national budget devoted to civil service salaries and pensions.
French resistance to change largely stems from a very different conception of the social contract between the citizen and the state in the realm of job security.
- resistance to:对……的抵制
- stem from:arise from sth; have sth as its origin or cause 来自或起源於某事物; 由某事物造成: discontent stemming from low pay and poor working conditions 因工资低﹑ 工作条件差而产生的不满情绪
- conception:构想、主意
- social contract:社会契约
- in the realm of: in the field/sphere of:在……方面、领域
- job security:工作保障、就业保障
On this subject, Philippe d'Iribarne, author of French Strangeness, has remarked, "In the American imagination, the relationship between a worker and employer is that of a supplier and a client … In France, when people work they say they have a 'situation,' which they expect to endure for life."
- subject:主题 On this subject: 在这个主题/问题上
- Philippe d'Iribarne:法国社会学家菲利普·迪里巴尔纳
- remark:评论、评述
- is that of ...: is a relationship of ... 这里的that指的是前面的relationship
- 在美国人的想象中,员工与雇主之间的关系是供应者与客户之间的关系
- situation: 在旧的用法中,situation在英语中有工作的意思,例如:My sister has a good situation as a teacher in the local school. 但是这里,have a situation: 就是指有了一个position,有了个职位,或者说有了[自己的一个]位置
- which they expect to endure for life: 这里的endure应该不是忍受的意思,而是持续:last。他们认为[这个职位/位置]会持续一辈子。
The function of the state under this model is, above all else, to "make sure that workers are taken care of" in hopes of creating a "healthier, more humane society" than is possible in more fully liberalized economies.
- this model:这个[经济]模型:指的是人们将就业视为一种应当持续一生的职位/位置
- above all else:高于一切、胜过一切
- than is possible in more fully liberalized economies: 注意这个结构,相当于 than [it is] possible [to create] in more fully liberalized economies | 在这一模型下,政府的功能首先要确保工人被妥善照顾,以期创建一个更健康、有人性的社会,而这样的社会在更加自由化的经济体制中不那么可能会建立起来。
- liberalize:free (sb/sth) from political or moral restrictions 使(某人[某事物])自由化(脱离政治或道德的约束): There is a move to liberalize literature and the Arts. 文学与艺术有自由化的动向.
- economy:可数名词:operation and management of a country's money supply, trade and industry; economic system (国家的)经济管理; 经济制度: The state of the economy is very worrying. 目前的经济状况令人十分担忧. * The economies of Japan and China 日本和中国的经济制度.
The pervasive role of the French government in employment is reinforced by the fact that 25 percent of the country's workforce is employed in the public sector, with 45 percent of the national budget devoted to civil service salaries and pensions.
- pervasive: 形容词 present and perceived everywhere; pervading 无处不在的; 遍布的; 充斥各处的: pervasive smell, dust, damp etc 到处都有的气味﹑ 尘埃﹑ 湿气等 * the pervasive mood of pessimism 普遍存在的悲观情绪
- civil service:行政部门、公务员部门
- 法国政府在就业中的作用无处不在,而这一点又由于以下实际情况而得到加强,那就是:这个国家中25%的劳动力受雇于公共部门,而且国家预算的45%是专门用于发放公务员的薪金和养老金的。
Many advocates of greater economic liberalization attribute France's economic stagnation and political deadlock – conditions symptomatic of much of Europe – to the "hypertrophy" of the welfare state. In a country where "75 per cent of young people openly declare that their dream in life is to become a civil servant, something is obviously wrong … A lack of confidence in the future and fear of precariousness have taken over the spirit of adventure, a frame of mind in which to be protected from life becomes more important than what you do in life." The flexibility necessary for a healthy economy in an increasingly fast-paced world comes at the expense of the security that most workers – including more and more young workers – cherish.
Many advocates of greater economic liberalization attribute France's economic stagnation and political deadlock – conditions symptomatic of much of Europe – to the "hypertrophy" of the welfare state.
- 整句话结构可以归纳为:advocates attribute economic stagnation and political deadlock to hypertrophy of the welfare state.
- advocate:~ (of sth) person who supports or speaks in favour of a cause, policy, etc (对一事业﹑ 方针﹑ 政策等的)支持者, 拥护者, 鼓吹者, 提倡者: a lifelong advocate of disarmament 为裁军奋斗终生的人
- attribute ... to ...:将……归因于……,认为……的原因是
- stagnation:停滞 economic stagnation:经济停滞、一潭死水
- complete failure to reach agreement or to settle a quarrel or grievance 僵局: The negotiations have reached deadlock. 谈判陷入僵局
- conditions symptomatic of much of Europe指的就是France's economic stagnation and political deadlock 欧洲大部分国家都有这种症状 | symptomatic of:If something bad is symptomatic of something else, it is caused by the other thing and is proof that it exists: *Jealousy within a relationship is usually symptomatic of low self-esteem in one of the partners.
- hypertrophy: [器官]肥大,这里的hypertrophy of the welfare state指的就是福利化政府的过度膨胀
In a country where "75 per cent of young people openly declare that their dream in life is to become a civil servant, something is obviously wrong …
- openly declare:公然宣称、公然表示
- civil servant:公务员
A lack of confidence in the future and fear of precariousness have taken over the spirit of adventure, a frame of mind in which to be protected from life becomes more important than what you do in life.
- precarious: depending on chance; uncertain 依靠机会的; 不确定的: She makes a rather precarious living as a novelist. 她当小说家, 过着不太稳定的生活.
- take over: 接管、接替、控制
- a frame of `mind particular state of one's mind or feelings; mood 心境; 心情; 情绪; 思想状态: I'm not in the right frame of mind to start discussing money. 我现在没心思来商量钱的问题. | 这的a frame of mind是the spirit of adventure的同位语
- to be protected from life整个充当becomes的主语
The flexibility necessary for a healthy economy in an increasingly fast-paced world comes at the expense of the security that most workers – including more and more young workers – cherish.
- fast-paced:节奏很快的
- at the expense of ...: with loss or damage to sth 在损失或损坏某事物的情况下,以……为代价
- cherish:pif you cherish something, it is very important to you:*He was a man who cherished his privacy. 珍惜、重视
At bottom, as Dominique Moisi has said, "The hostility towards the concept of flexibility in the labor market was not only the product of a reactionary, status quo impulse, but the result of a deep resentment at seeing one's life being so totally at the disposal of others." Trying to shut one's borders to the forces of globalization is, however, no longer a viable option. Continued calls for state intervention in labor markets merely accelerate an already vicious cycle in which protectionism begets slower growth and unemployment, thus multiplying the need for more extensive social safety nets and exacerbating the original problem.
At bottom, as Dominique Moisi has said, "The hostility towards the concept of flexibility in the labor market was not only the product of a reactionary, status quo impulse, but the result of a deep resentment at seeing one's life being so totally at the disposal of others."
- at bottom: in reality; really; basically 其实; 实际上; 基本上: He seems aggressive but at bottom he is kind and good-natured. 他表面上好与人争, 而实际上却很善良厚道.
- hostility: opposition; rejection 反对; 否决: His suggestion met with some hostility. 他的建议遭到某种程度的反对. | 敌意
- labor market:劳动力市场
- the product of ...:……的产物
- reactionary: strongly opposed to any political change or social progress 反对改革的 (注意:中文中有时候译为“反动的”,但是在英文中reactionary并不具有“反动的”一词中如此强烈的意味)
- status quo:situation or state of affairs as it is now, or as it was before a recent change 现状; 原来的状况: upset/restore/preserve the status quo 打破现状[恢复原状/维持现状] * conservatives who defend the status quo 维护现状的保守派.
- impulse:sudden urge to act without thinking about the results 凭冲动行事(未顾及後果); 突如其来的念头 | 对劳动力市场灵活性的反对并不仅仅是一时冲动想要反对改革、保持现状的产物(不仅仅是想要反对改革、保持现状的一时之念的产物)
- but the result of ... 是与was not only the product of 并列的:不是……的产物,而是……的结果
- resentment:a feeling of anger because something has happened that you think is unfair 愤恨,怨恨 (注意介词at)
- at the disposal of ...: 被……自由支配,任意使用
Trying to shut one's borders to the forces of globalization is, however, no longer a viable option.
- shut one's borders 将……的边界关闭/封锁(不让外面的人、物、力量等进入)
- viable:sound and workable; feasible切实可行的; 可实施的: a viable plan, proposition, proposal,etc 切实可行的计画、提议、建议等 * scientifically, politically, economically viable 科学上、政治上、经济上可行的.
Continued calls for state intervention in labor markets merely accelerate an already vicious cycle in which protectionism begets slower growth and unemployment, thus multiplying the need for more extensive social safety nets and exacerbating the original problem.
- call:~ for sth request or demand for sth 对某事物的要求或号召: The President made a call for national unity. 总统号召全国人民团结起来. * There were calls for the Prime Minister's resignation from the Opposition parties. 在反对党中, 有人要求首相辞职.
- state intervention:国家干预
- accelerate:make (sth) move faster or happen earlier; increase the speed of 使(某事物)加快; 促进(某事物); 加速
- vicious cycle:恶性循环
- protectionism:[贸易]保护主义
- beget:cause (sth); result in 产生(某事物); 导致: War begets misery and ruin. 战争是苦难与毁灭的祸根.
- multiply:increase (sth) in number or quantity 增多, 增加(某事物): Our problems have multiplied since last year. 自去年以来我们的问题增多了.
- extensive: large in amount; wide-ranging 大量的; 广泛的 | more extensive social safety nets 更广泛的社会保障网/体系
- exacerbate: make (pain, disease, a situation) worse; aggravate 使(疼痛﹑ 疾病﹑ 情形)恶化; 加剧: Scratching exacerbates a skin rash. 皮疹搔後会恶化. * Her mother's interference exacerbated the difficulties in their marriage. 她母亲从中干预使他们的婚姻雪上加霜.
Concerns over job security are by no means confined to France or even Europe; rather, they are grounded in changes in global labor markets that impact every country, including the United States. Three forces are reshaping labor markets around the world: First, an oversupply of increasingly mobile workers relative to capital and investment; Second, technological innovations that put previously isolated workers in competition with one another; and third, increases in productivity that, while beneficial in the long term, contribute to short-term economic instability.
Concerns over job security are by no means confined to France or even Europe; rather, they are grounded in changes in global labor markets that impact every country, including the United States.
- concerns:忧虑、担忧、烦恼
- by no means: not at all, in no way
- be confined to ... 仅限于:to keep someone or something within the limits of a particular activity or subject
- rather:used to express an opposite opinion 例如:No, I'm not tired. Rather the opposite in fact.
- be grounded in/on: be based on 建立在……基础之上
Three forces are reshaping labor markets around the world
- reshape:to shape something again or differently 洗牌、重组、重新塑造
First, an oversupply of increasingly mobile workers relative to capital and investment
- oversupply:供应过量
- mobile:(of people) able to change class, occupation or place of residence easily (指人)易改变阶层﹑ 职业或住址的, 流动的: a mobile work-force 流动劳力 | increasingly mobile workers 流动性越来越强的工人
- relative to:With regard to; concerning
- 首先,相对于资本和投资而言,流动性越来越强的劳动力供给过剩
Second, technological innovations that put previously isolated workers in competition with one another
- technological innovations:技术革新/创新
- previously:原先、曾经
- isolated:彼此独立的、彼此互不影响的、孤立的、单独的
- put ... in competition with ... 让……跟……竞争
and third, increases in productivity that, while beneficial in the long term, contribute to short-term economic instability
- productivity:生产力
- 第三点,生产力的增长——尽管长期来看是有利的——在短期内会加剧经济的不稳定性。
The interaction of these forces has resulted in declining wages for manufacturing and unskilled workers – a phenomenon now beginning to affect service and skilled workers as well.
The interaction of these forces has resulted in declining wages for manufacturing and unskilled workers – a phenomenon now beginning to affect service and skilled workers as well.
- 这些力量的相互作用导致制造业和非技术型工人的薪资降低——这一现象现在也开始影响到服务业和技术型工人。
Whatever jobs are created by robust U.S. economic growth are often not as good as the ones being lost; many new jobs are in the "low-wage and low-skill end of the non-unionized service sector – on the check-out counter at Home Depot or delivering Domino's pizzas. Often those are replacing secure jobs at places such as General Motors or Ford that traditionally provided generous wages and full health and pension cover."
Whatever jobs are created by robust U.S. economic growth are often not as good as the ones being lost
- Whatever jobs are created by robust US economic growth = Any jobs that are created by robust US economic growth
- robust: vigorous; healthy and strong 有活力的; 强健的: a robust young man 身强力壮的青年男子
- the ones being lost: the [jobs] being lost
- 不论美国强劲的经济增长创造了哪些工作,[它们]通常都没有失掉的那些工作好。
many new jobs are in the "low-wage and low-skill end of the non-unionized service sector – on the check-out counter at Home Depot or delivering Domino's pizzas.
- new jobs 新工作(这里指的就是由于美国强劲的经济增长而创造出来的一些新工作)
- end:端、顶端 | 许多新工作都属于没有工会保护的服务行业中低薪低技能那一端的(与高薪高技能相对,各属于工作薪资与技术要求的两端)
- non-unionized:没有参加工会的、非公会的
- on the check-out counter at Home Depot 在家得宝连锁店的收银台上(家得宝:美国家居连锁店,介绍可以看这里,家得宝这个译名译得很好)
- Domino:达美乐比萨(连锁店)
Often those are replacing secure jobs at places such as General Motors or Ford that traditionally provided generous wages and full health and pension cover.
- General Motors:通用汽车公司(介绍看这里)
- Ford:福特汽车公司(介绍看这里)
- provide generous wages: 提供丰厚的工资/薪酬 | generous:plentiful
- full health and pension cover: 完全的健康和养老保险 | cover: insurance (against loss, injury, etc) 保险(以防损失﹑ 伤亡等): a policy that gives cover against fire 投保火险的保险单
According to Martin Bailey of the Institute for International Economics, "There is a social compact in which says each generation will be better off than the last. But it appears to have been broken in the last 10 to 20 years. If you look at the data then it is clear people's insecurities are not irrational."
According to Martin Bailey of the Institute for International Economics, "There is a social compact in which says each generation will be better off than the last.
- Institute for International Economics 国际经济研究所
- social compact:社会契约、社会约定 | there is a social compact in which says ... 有一个社会约定,里面说……
- better off:being in a better or more prosperous condition | 每一代人都将比上一代人过得好
But it appears to have been broken in the last 10 to 20 years.
- it 指的是 the social compact
If you look at the data then it is clear people's insecurities are not irrational.
- insecurity: 不安全的状态/感觉
- irrational:not guided by reason; illogical or absurd 没有道理的; 不合逻辑的; 荒谬的: irrational fears, behaviour, arguments 荒唐无稽的恐惧、行为、论据
- 如果你看看数据,就能明显知道人们的不安全感并非来的毫无道理。
Job insecurity is a real and understandable phenomenon in today's globalized world. Increased competition forces both governments and companies constantly to adjust their labor policies just to keep pace with rapid change, and the traditional safety nets of the welfare state can no longer be taken for granted. As long as workers continue to feel a lack of control over their futures, it is likely they will continue to express their anxious discontent in protests, strikes, and in some cases "protection" from international competition for many years to come.
Increased competition forces both governments and companies constantly to adjust their labor policies just to keep pace with rapid change, and the traditional safety nets of the welfare state can no longer be taken for granted.
- force:动词:强迫 force ... to do
- adjust: 调整 constantly adjust their labor policies 不断调整他们的劳动政策
- keep pace with:move forward, develop or increase at the same rate (as sb/sth) (与某人[某事物])并驾齐驱, 齐头并进: He was so unfit he couldn't keep pace (with us). 他身体很不好, 跟不上(我们). * It's important for a firm to keep pace with changes in the market. 对一个公司来说, 能跟上市场的发展是很重要的. * Are wages keeping pace with inflation? 工资的增长跟得上通货膨涨的速度吗?
- take sth for granted: be so familiar with sb/sth that one no longer appreciates his/its full value 因熟悉某人[某事物]而觉察不出其真正价值: He never praises his wife: he just takes her for granted. 他从不夸妻子, 只是觉得她一切理当如此.
As long as workers continue to feel a lack of control over their futures, it is likely they will continue to express their anxious discontent in protests, strikes, and in some cases "protection" from international competition for many years to come.
- as long as: 只要
- a lack of control over their future: 对他们的未来缺乏控制
- it is likely: 很有可能
- discontent:lack of satisfaction 不满; 不满足; 不满意: The strikes were a sign of discontent (with poor pay). 那些罢工事件是(对低薪)不满的一种表示.
- protest:抗议活动;strike:罢工
- in some cases: 在某些情况下;有时候
- to come:existing or arriving in the future,例如:in the days to come; there will be more trouble to come.
- 很有可能在接下来的几年里,他们会继续通过抗议、罢工以及有时候“保护”国内免受国际竞争的威胁来表达他们焦虑的不满情绪。(国内的贸易保护主义歧视也是这样一种不满和焦虑的表现)