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Is it possible to decrease inflation without causing a recession and its concomitant increase in unemployment? The orthodox answer is “no”. Whether they support the “inertia” theory of inflation(that today’s inflation rate is caused by yesterday’s inflation, the state of the economic cycle, and external influences such as import prices) or the “rational expectations” theory (that inflation is caused by workers’ and employers’ expectations, coupled with a lack of credible monetary and fiscal policies), most economists agree that tight monetary and fiscal policies, which cause recessions, are necessary to decelerate inflation. They point out that in the 1980’s, many European countries and the United States conquered high (by these countries’ standards) inflation, but only by applying tight monetary and fiscal policies that sharply increased unemployment. Nevertheless, some governments’ policymakers insist that direct controls on wages and process, without tight monetary and fiscal policies, can succeed in decreasing inflation. Unfortunately, because this approach fails to deal with the underlying causes of inflation, wage and price controls eventually collapse, the hitherto-repressed inflation resurfaces, and in the meantime, though the policy-makers succeed in avoiding a recession, a frozen structure of relative prices imposes distortions that do damage to the economy’s prospects for long-term growth.
24-12 The primary purpose of the passage is to
A) apply two conventional theories.
B) examine a generally accepted position.
C) support a controversial policy.
D) explain the underlying causes of a phenomenon.
E) propose an innovative solution.
答案B,我选C
Is it possible to decrease inflation without causing a recession and its concomitant increase in unemployment?
是否可以既削减通货膨胀，又不带来经济衰退及相应的高失业呢？
The orthodox answer is “no”.
传统观点认为不可能。
Whether they support the “inertia” theory of inflation(that today’s inflation rate is caused by yesterday’s inflation, the state of the economic cycle, and external influences such as import prices) or the “rational expectations” theory (that inflation is caused by workers’ and employers’ expectations, coupled with a lack of credible monetary and fiscal policies), most economists agree that tight monetary and fiscal policies, which cause recessions, are necessary to decelerate inflation.
无论是惯性理论，还是理性预期理论，大部分经济学家都主张以从紧的货币和财政政策来减缓通货膨胀。
They point out that in the 1980’s, many European countries and the United States conquered high (by these countries’ standards) inflation, but only by applying tight monetary and fiscal policies that sharply increased unemployment.
他们指出，许多欧洲国家和美国克服了(以这些国家的标准衡量的)高通货膨胀，而确是采用了导致高失业的从紧的货币和财政政策。
Nevertheless, some governments’ policymakers insist that direct controls on wages and process, without tight monetary and fiscal policies, can succeed in decreasing inflation.
然而，一些政府政策制定者坚称，直接控制工资和过程(是否应为price？)，不需从紧的货币和财政政策，也可以抑制通胀。
Unfortunately, because this approach fails to deal with the underlying causes of inflation, wage and price controls eventually collapse, the hitherto-repressed inflation resurfaces, and in the meantime, though the policy-makers succeed in avoiding a recession, a frozen structure of relative prices imposes distortions that do damage to the economy’s prospects for long-term growth.
不幸地是，因为这种方法未能解决通胀的潜在原因，控制最终失效，通胀再次高启，同时尽管避免了衰退，相对价格的固定构架伤害了经济的长期前景。
我觉得B的问题在于EXAMINE, generally accepted theory; 然而，一些政府政策制定者坚称，直接控制工资和过程(是否应为price？)，不需从紧的货币和财政政策，也可以抑制通胀。说明理论是有反对者的，而作者通过后面的论述，否定了这些反对的意见，从而支持了一个有争议的政策
争议体现在：经济学家和政策的制定者对该政策的看法不一致
请NN指正 | 
