2007年VOA标准英语-World Bank Releases Governance Report
搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号：tingroom，领取免费英语资料大礼包。
（单词翻译）
By Ivana KuharWashington
11 July 2007
According to the World Bank, a number of countries are making progress in improving governance and fighting corruption1. In a new report released Tuesday, the World Bank says good governance and corruption control are fundamental for economic development and the reduction of poverty. For producer Ivana Kuhar, VOA's Jim Bertel has more.
World Bank Governance report
"Governance" is a relatively2 new term referring to the effectiveness of institutions, business and civic3 mechanisms4, and policies governing a country. In a report released Tuesday, "Worldwide Governance Indicators5 1996 - 2006", the World Bank says a considerable number of countries have made great strides in improving governance over the past decade.
Good governance results in higher standards of living for all population segments, says co-author of the report Daniel Kaufman. "A country that improves significantly in the quality of rule of law or in controlling corruption, in the long term can expect a three-fold increase in per capita income: going from $1,000 per year to $3,000 or from $8,000 to $24,000 per year.
It takes a while to reap all the fruits. But, they are enormous. Similarly, one gets the same type of impact on reducing infant mortality, improving illiteracy6, less income inequality, less poverty and much more investment - domestic and foreign," adds Kaufman.
While governance is measured by a complex set of interdependent criteria7, the World Bank expert points to corruption as a principal impediment to economic progress.
"Corruption is a one trillion dollar industry in terms of bribery8 around the world. It is an enormous amount, and it comes at an enormous cost," says Kaufman. "It is particularly taxing on the poor. It is like an additional tax on the lower half of the population. It has a tremendous impact in terms of standards of living, poverty, access to basic services, like health and education."
International financial institutions are increasingly basing their aid and loans on the condition that recipients9 undertake reforms that ensure "good governance", says the World Bank expert.
Nordic European countries -- Denmark and Finland -- score almost 100 percent in all six measured categories of good governance. But, Kaufman says a number of European countries in transition are making great strides in improving governance. "The data shows how much it is possible in 8-10 years to make a difference. For example, Serbia -- a big difference has taken place; Slovakia -- very significant changes since mid-1990s."
The World Bank's report on quality of governance shows major deteriorations in Belarus, Nepal, Bolivia, Zimbabwe and Venezuela.
