ECONOMICS REPORT - Kydland, Prescott Win Nobel Prize in Econ

ECONOMICS REPORT - Kydland, Prescott Win Nobel Prize in Economics
By Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Friday, October 15, 2004

This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Economics Report.

 
Edward Prescott
The winners of the Nobel prize in economics this year are Finn Kydland of Norway and Edward Prescott of the United States.

Mister Prescott is an adviser¹ at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is also an Arizona State University professor. Mister Kydland is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 
Finn Kydland
The prize recognizes their work together on two studies. The first was published in nineteen seventy-seven.

Before the nineteen seventies, economic problems were seen mainly in terms of a lack of balance. Too much demand caused inflation. Too much supply caused a recession.

Governments would take steps aggressively to re-balance supply and demand. Low interest rates and increased government spending would expand growth and employment. Then, if prices went up too much, higher interest rates would ease inflation.

But in the seventies, many nations experienced both low employment and high inflation at the same time. This was called stagflation. And no one could explain it.

Finn Kydland and Edward Prescott showed that stagflation resulted when policymakers did not do as they promised. Most governments say they want high employment and low inflation. But, over time, events can cause them not to follow their stated economic policy to support these goals. This is called the time consistency² problem.

The two economists³ published another study in nineteen eighty-two. They developed ways to explain business cycles, times of increase or decrease in economic activity. They showed how new technology creates periods of economic growth and productivity.

Markets then make corrections which slow the growth. Wages change. Investments change. People buy more or less of things. The two economists showed how activities at this level govern an economy. They also showed how a shock like an increase in oil prices can affect business cycles.

Today, their work influences central bank officials and policymakers around the world. Their award is officially called the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Science in Memory of Alfred Nobel. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences presents the honor.

Edward Prescott and Finn Kydland will share almost one million four hundred thousand dollars in prize money.

This VOA Special English Economics Report was written by Mario Ritter. This is Gwen Outen.

1 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

2 consistency   

n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度

参考例句：

• Your behaviour lacks consistency.你的行为缺乏一贯性。
• We appreciate the consistency and stability in China and in Chinese politics.我们赞赏中国及其政策的连续性和稳定性。

3 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》