2006年VOA标准英语-UN Development Agency Says Poverty Not Declinin

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
20 July 2006
 
A new report says the economies of the world's 50 poorest countries grew by nearly six percent in 2004, the highest rate in two decades. But the report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development says this positive result is having little effect on reducing poverty.

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The report says record levels of exports, foreign direct investments and overseas development aid account for the record levels of economic growth in the world's least developed countries.

It says aid from rich countries to poor countries doubled to $25 billion between 1999 and 2004. It says some of the poorest countries profited from high demand for oil and other natural resources as well as record merchandise exports of nearly $58 billion. In addition, the report notes private foreign investment amounted to a record $10.7 billion.

 
Supachai Panitchpakdi (File photo) 
  
But the secretary-general of UNCTAD, Supachai Panitchpakdi, says these riches were not spread evenly among all the less-developed countries. And this is cause for concern.

"Real GDP per capita stagnated¹ or declined in one-third of LDCs is 2004," he said. "Second issue for concern is that the sustainability for growth is rather fragile as it is highly dependent on trends in commodity prices, particularly oil prices, which seems to be quite volatile². Also, trends in external finance, preferences for export of manufactured goods and climatic and weather conditions."

Supachai says these trends are not always stable. He says an overall increase in gross domestic product is not as important as providing people with jobs that provide a decent living.

"The population of working age is growing much faster than the number of productive jobs," he continued. "The farming sector³ is getting to be saturated⁴ so we need to really have a growth strategy, economic development strategy that can produce productive jobs."

The report finds the key to reducing poverty in the world's poorest countries is for them to develop the ability to efficiently⁵ produce goods and services that can be sold at home and abroad.

It says low labor⁶ productivity leads to widespread underemployment. And, this is the basic cause of persistent⁷ mass poverty. The report says it takes 94 workers in a poor country to match the productivity of one worker in a developed country.

In an effort to increase productivity, the report recommends that the poorest countries should do all they can to improve their roads, transport, telecommunications, energy and other infrastructure⁸. It says it is particularly important to provide more widespread and reliable electricity. Closing what it calls the electricity divide, the report says, is at least as significant for economic growth and poverty reduction as closing the digital divide.

1 stagnated   

v.停滞，不流动，不发展( stagnate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The balloting had stagnated, he couldn't win. 投票工作陷于停顿，他不能得胜。 来自辞典例句
• His mind has stagnated since his retirement. 他退休后头脑迟钝了。 来自辞典例句

2 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

3 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

4 saturated   

a.饱和的，充满的

参考例句：

• The continuous rain had saturated the soil. 连绵不断的雨把土地淋了个透。
• a saturated solution of sodium chloride 氯化钠饱和溶液

5 efficiently   

adv.高效率地，有能力地

参考例句：

• The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
• Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

6 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。

7 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。