英闻天下——164 Working-age Population Decline Challenges China's Growth

 　　Latest figures show, the number of people in their working-age decreased by over 3 million in 2012, accounting¹ for some 69 percent of China's total population.

 

　　Ma Jiantang, director of State Statistical² Bureau, warns this is a serious issue.

 

　　"It is the first time the country has recorded an absolute drop in the working-age population over a considerable period of time. We need to pay serious attention to this. "

 

　　Dr. Xiang Songzuo, a Chief Economist³ with Agricultural Bank of China, says the drop also reflects heavily on the available labour force.

 

　　"Because of the rising production costs, our export industries are becoming less competitive. Further, the decline in working-age people also manifests itself on labor⁴ forces migrate from rural areas to cities and industrial centers, this leads to the rise of produce prices. And lastly, as our society is aging, it's going to be a bigger burden on the government to provide social security programs."

 

　　The working-age population, which covers ages between 15 and 59, is expected to decrease steadily⁵ and gradually over a long period, or at least before 2030.

 

　　Dr. Xiang Songzuo says even though the ageing population count is lower than some of the most aged⁶ countries, something needs to be done about the situation nonetheless.

 

　　"First, companies should restructure itself to increase competitiveness. Second, certain adjustments are needed for China's family planning policy. If we let the current one-child policy to be in place for another 20 years, it will take its toll⁷ on the momentum⁸ of the economy. Thirdly, our government should start the consideration to extend the retirement⁹ age as the population lives longer."

 

　　It's also believed the current European debt crisis and economic problems facing the US as well as Japan could also be connected to the ageing population, with 60 percent of government revenue allocated¹⁰ to social welfare in the countries.

 

　　Other economists¹¹ suggest the fading of China's demographic dividend¹² will require the government to boost the quality of human resources rather than pin hopes on urbanization for future growth.

 

　　For CRI, I'm Shen Chengcheng.

1 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

2 statistical   

adj.统计的，统计学的

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。
• They're making detailed statistical analysis.他们正在做具体的统计分析。

3 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。

4 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

5 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

6 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

7 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

8 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

9 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

10 allocated   

adj. 分配的 动词allocate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The Ford Foundation allocated millions of dollars for cancer research. 福特基金会拨款数百万美元用于癌症研究。
• More funds will now be allocated to charitable organizations. 现在会拨更多的资金给慈善组织。

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》

12 dividend   

n.红利，股息；回报，效益

参考例句：

• The company was forced to pass its dividend.该公司被迫到期不分红。
• The first quarter dividend has been increased by nearly 4 per cent.第一季度的股息增长了近 4%。