VOA标准英语2009年-Two Americans Capture Top Nobel Economics

By Tom Rivers
London
12 October 2009

Two Americans, Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson, share this year's Nobel Prize in Economics. 

 
A computer screen showing the pictures of Elinor Ostrom, left, and Oliver E. Williamson, at the Royal Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, 12 Oct 2009
The last award in this year's Nobel series, the Economics Prize, has been awarded to Elinor Ostrom from Indiana University and to Oliver Williamson from the University of California at Berkeley.

The two won for their analysis of how authority is exercised in economic systems and in companies.

Nobel Economics Committee Chairman Bertil Holmlund said their work was enlightening.

"Elinor Ostrom's research has provided novel lessons about the mechanisms¹ that sustain human cooperation," he said. "Oliver Williamson's research has offered new insights on how transaction costs determine the boundaries of the firm. Both laureates have profoundly enhanced our understanding of economic governance."

Williamson developed a theory where business firms can serve as structures to resolve conflicts.

Ostrom's research has focuses on the interaction of people and natural resources and how common property can be successfully managed by those groups using it.

In a phone call press conference in Stockholm, professor Ostrom was asked how she felt about becoming the first woman to win the Nobel Economics Prize since it was first awarded in 1968.

"I had not realized that that was the case until just recently when they called. My first reaction was great surprise and appreciation," said Ostrom. "There are many, many people who have struggled mightily² and to be chosen for this prize is a great honor. And I am still a little bit in shock."

Ostrom was also asked about what her research might say about how we deal with the growing problem of global warming.

"A lot of people are now waiting for international negotiations³ to solve it," said Ostrom. "That again is the presumption⁴ that there are public officials who are genius and the rest of us are not. It is going to be important that there is an international agreement, but we can be taking steps at family level, community level, regional level, provincial⁵, state, national and there are many steps that have already been taken that are not going to solve it themselves but cumulatively⁶ can make a big difference."

Ostrom and Williamson share the $1.4-million prize. They will also receive a gold medal and a diploma from the Swedish king on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death in 1896.   

1 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 mightily   

ad.强烈地；非常地

参考例句：

• He hit the peg mightily on the top with a mallet. 他用木槌猛敲木栓顶。
• This seemed mightily to relieve him. 干完这件事后，他似乎轻松了许多。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 presumption   

n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定

参考例句：

• Please pardon my presumption in writing to you.请原谅我很冒昧地写信给你。
• I don't think that's a false presumption.我认为那并不是错误的推测。

5 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

6 cumulatively   

adv.累积地，渐增地

参考例句：

• Mind has become self-reproducing through man's capacity to transmit experience and its products cumulatively. 通过传递生活经验和积累创造的产品，人类的智慧在不断地进行着自我丰富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• At first, the drug does no harm, but cumulatively its effects are bad. 这药开始对人没有害处，但连续服用后果就坏了。 来自《简明英汉词典》