VOA标准英语2012--Libyan Economy in Post-Revolution Boom

 

Libyan Economy in Post-Revolution Boom

On a busy road on the outskirts¹ of town, a vegetable stand run by Ibrahim Jiuma Garguti has doubled in size since the revolution.

Garguti says people have more money to spend and officials don't bother him anymore.

"The government used to bother us about licenses," said Garguti. "The municipal guards used to take merchandise and harass² us. They would say we were crowding the road and ask for bribes³. But now those days are gone."

Downtown, it's the same story. There is a steady stream of customers at the "It's For You" boutique. Owner Mohammed al-Saadi's says business has doubled, partly because people have more money to spend, thanks to government subsidies⁴, but also because he says Libyan women are more in the mood to buy fashionable items. Economists⁵ call that "pent-up demand."

"Thank God now everything has changed and the country is going forward, and things are constantly improving," said al-Saadi. "The country has changed enormously, and we are able to work easily and follow the demands of the Libyan market and give Libyan customers what they want."

Al-Saadi says there are no more Gadhafi-era restrictions⁶ on what he can import, or from where.

But the boom is not universal. Half-finished construction projects dot the capital, tied up in investor⁷ concerns or stalled after Gaddhafi cronies fled.

At the offices of the Tripoli Post newspaper, editor Said Laswad says the Libyan economy needs a major restructuring.

"Those who are still running the Libyan economy are the remnants of the previous regime, with all the negative aspects of the culture of that regime. You really have to change everything and start anew. We have to start everything from scratch," said Laswad.

One change many experts call for is diversification⁸. Oil accounts for 65 percent of Libya's economy, and 95 percent of its exports. Said Laswad says the new government needs to end the culture of corruption⁹ and centralized control, and to stimulate¹⁰ the country's moribund¹¹ private sector¹².

"There was no what you can call in the world a private sector or economy as such," said Laswad. "Everything was owned by the government, by Gadhafi and his stooges."

Laswad says the Libyan people have the right to hold accountable those who stole billions from them during the Gadhafi years. But he says there are many business people whose ties to the regime were minimal¹³ and who could play a key role in rebuilding the economy and creating a more honest and transparent¹⁴ system that benefits everyone. 

1 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

2 harass   

vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰

参考例句：

• Our mission is to harass the landing of the main Japaness expeditionary force.我们的任务是骚乱日本远征军主力的登陆。
• They received the order to harass the enemy's rear.他们接到骚扰敌人后方的命令。

3 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

4 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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》

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

7 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

8 diversification   

n.变化，多样化；多种经营

参考例句：

• The seminar was to discuss diversification of agriculture. 该研讨会讨论的是农业多种经营。 来自辞典例句
• Firm diversification is increasingly achieved by the means of takeover and merger. 通过接管和兼并，厂商经营范围日益多样化。 来自辞典例句

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

11 moribund   

adj.即将结束的，垂死的

参考例句：

• The moribund Post Office Advisory Board was replaced.这个不起作用的邮局顾问委员会已被替换。
• Imperialism is monopolistic,parasitic and moribund capitalism.帝国主义是垄断的、寄生的、垂死的资本主义。

12 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。

13 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。

14 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。