VOA标准英语2014--Economists Divided Over Venezuela's New Forex System 经济学家对委内瑞拉新的外汇交易系统看法不一

 

Economists¹ Divided Over Venezuela's New Forex System 经济学家对委内瑞拉新的外汇交易系统看法不一

In the midst of ongoing² anti-government protests, the Venezuelan government has introduced a new currency exchange system to reduce the soaring black market for dollars, which has contributed to food shortages and high inflation in the country. 

Both liberal and conservative economists support this move, but are divided over whether the measure is strong enough to stabilize³ the economy of this oil-rich but troubled country.

Venezuela’s leaders have taken harsh measures against anti-government protests that began in February and have on occasion turned violent and deadly.  But the government has also taken a conciliatory step to address a key a demand of the protesters -  fix the ailing⁴ economy.

It has implemented⁵ a new market-based currency exchange system called “Sicad 2” to sell dollars for eight to 10 times the official government-controlled exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars per dollar.

While Venezuela is a rich country and claims to have the world's largest oil reserves, the economy has suffered from hyperinflation and shortages of basic goods, due in part to the restricted government exchange rate.  

Mark Weisbrot, with the Center for Economic and Policy Research, said in an interview from Peru that the new exchange system should help stabilize the economy by reducing the impact of  the illegal black market for dollars.   

“You had kind of a bubble in the black market for the dollar, people buying dollars because they thought it was a one-way bet and it was always going to, the dollar value would always go up, and now that is not going to be the case," he said.

Venezuelan opposition⁶ groups call this new system a currency devaluation, but the government says the new rate is only for nonessential goods.  

Owners of a gift shop in Caracas called Viqui, that imports products from China, told VOA they have submitted a Sicad 2 request to the Central Bank to purchase dollars.  But the bureacratic process could take weeks, and there is concern that the government will not provide enough dollars to make the new system work.  

Barbara Kotschwar, with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, says the lack of dollars does not address Venezuela’s main economic problem.  The country, including the oil industry, is producing less, and the government is printing more money to cover its growing debts.

 “The money supply has doubled since about December 2012. This is in an economy that has been growing at under two percent," said Kotschwar.

 

When Sicad 2 first debuted⁷, the black market rate fell from about 90 to close to 50 bolivars to the dollar, but, since then, the rate has been rising - indicating to many that confidence in Venezuela’s economy remains⁸ low.

1 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》

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

4 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

5 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。