经济学人中文网
The government’s odd handbook for new residents 英国政府为新公民提供的古怪指南
Feb 2nd 2013 |From the print edition
Why, of course we recognise him 咳，我们当然认识他
BEFORE the financial crisis, politicians expended much energy agonising about what Britishness was, and wondering how to bolster it through things like citizenship ceremonies. This was a bull-market preoccupation: it shrank as the budget deficit grew, and politicians turned instead to pulling the British, whoever they are, out of their economic slump. One of its legacies, however, was ―Life in the United Kingdom‖, the textbook that is the basis for the test taken by all would-be citizens. The third edition came out on January 28th.
在金融危机爆发之前，英国政客总是为何为英国性而大伤脑筋，并思考着如何通过诸如设立公民身份庆典仪式之类的活动，来将其发扬光大。这是一项只有经济良好时才受到关注的活动，一旦预算赤字增长，政客就把注意力转到如何将国民从经济困境中拉出来，关于英国性的讨论就变少了。然而，由此带来的结果之一便是《英国生活》【注1】的出现，所有新移民都要接受的入籍考试就是以这本书为基础。该书第三版将于1月28日付梓。
Many governments publish similar backgrounders. They follow a formula: a little history, an introduction to how government works, an encomium to famous writers, scientists and sportsmen and a list of freedoms and duties. Britain‘s differs slightly in that it begins by asking, ―What is the UK?‖—a fair question given the profusion of names for the rocks that The Economist calls home. The overall tone is closer to its Australian and Canadian equivalents than to America‘s, which begins by thanking you for your interest in becoming a citizen, in the manner of a ma?tre d‘ at a restaurant where all the tables are reserved until next spring.
许多国家也都出版了相似的指南来介绍本国相关背景资料。它们都遵循同样的格式：粗略地介绍一下本国历史、对政府工作的介绍、对著名作家、科学家和运动员的溢美赞词，以及公民的各项权利与义务一览表。与其他国家略微不同，英国的这本指南开篇就提出了一个问题——―什么是英国？‖。作为《经济学人》发源地的英国，有着各种各样的称呼，有鉴于此，这个问题的确没那么容易回答。相较于美国，英国指南的总体基调更接近于澳大利亚和加拿大。美国一般先感谢读者有兴趣入籍美国公民，书中的口吻和餐馆领班告诉你要预订得等到明年春天时（的口吻）一样。
Each section ends with a little checklist. Readers are invited to affirm, among other things, that they understand the history of pre-Roman Britain and the ideas of the Enlightenment. Some of the selections might seem odd to long-term residents. The five writers who merit special treatment are William Shakespeare, Robert Burns, Dylan Thomas, Rudyard Kipling and Roald Dahl. Skiing is described as an increasingly popular sport. Pleasingly, Sake Dean Mohamet (pictured), who opened Britain‘s first curry house in 1810, is singled out for praise, along with a few prime ministers.
每一章节最后都附有一份小清单。读者们可以据此核对他们是否已经掌握了前罗马时期的英国历史和启蒙运动的思想主张等知识。对于英国常住公民来说，其中的一些选择看似很古怪。五个享有特殊地位的作家分别是威廉?莎士比亚、罗伯特?彭斯【注2】、狄兰?托马斯【注3】、鲁德亚德?吉普林【注4】和罗尔德?达尔【注5】。滑雪被认为是越来越流行的体育项目。令人欣慰的是，1810年在英国创办首家咖喱屋的清酒院长穆罕默德（见上图）和为数不多的几位首相，在专门的章节被赞颂。
All this explained, the book moves on to the values and responsibilities of Britons. The rule of law must be obeyed, freedom of expression and religion are cherished, equal treatment is given to people of every hue. Being British, it
10
经济学人中文网
turns out, is a lot like being a citizen of any other wealthy democracy, with a few small adjustments.
解释完上述问题之后，这本书将重心转向了英国人的价值观与责任感。他们必须遵守法制，他们珍惜言论和信仰自由，不同肤色的人种人人平等。这样看来，除了细微差别，英国公民与任何一个富裕的民主国家公民相差无几。
Australia‘s textbook reminds its migrants of the importance of ―a fair go‖, the principle that hard work and talent should always count for more than wealth or connections. America‘s asks people to memorise the deadline for the filing of income-tax returns. Britain emphasises the importance of being a good neighbour. What does this mean? ―Try to keep your garden tidy, and only put your refuse bags and bins on the street or in communal areas if they are due to be collected.‖ Rule Britannia.
澳大利亚的指南提醒其移民―公平‖的重要性，这条原则强调了努力和天分总是比财富与关系重要。美国的指南要求公民牢记所得税申报表提交的截止日期。英国则强调了做一个好邻居的重要性。这是什么意思？大不列颠守则规定：―尽量保持花园的整洁，只有在收垃圾时间才能将垃圾袋或者垃圾箱放在街上或公共区域内。‖
译者注：
【注1】Since 2005, everyone who applies to become a British citizen has to show their knowledge of the English language and of life in the UK in one of two ways: by taking a special ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) course, or by taking the Life in the UK test. From April 2007, everyone who applies for permanent residence in the UK will also be required to take one of these two tests. The handbook contains chapters on: the making of the United Kingdom, summarising its history; a changing society, including issues of migration and the changing role of women; a profile of Britain today, including its nations and regions, religion, customs and traditions; how Britain is governed, including the British Constitution and its role in Europe and the world; everyday needs, covering topics of housing, health, education, money, leisure and travel; employment issues; knowing the law, including the civil and criminal legal system; sources of help and information, including public libraries and the police service; and building better communities, including participating in the local community and opportunities for volunteering.
【注2】罗伯特?彭斯（Robert Burns，1759—1796）苏格兰农民诗人，在英国文学史上占有特殊重要的地位。他复活并丰富了苏格兰民歌；他的诗歌富有音乐性，可以歌唱。彭斯生于苏格兰民族面临被异族征服的时代，因此，他的诗歌充满了激进的民主、自由的思想。诗人生活在破产的农村，和贫苦的农民血肉相连。他的诗歌歌颂了故国家乡的秀美，抒写了劳动者纯朴的友谊和爱情。
【注3】狄兰?托马斯：人称―疯狂的狄兰‖，生于英国威尔士一个很有教养的中产阶级的家庭，而他本人天生就是一个顽童，而后又成为酒鬼、烟鬼。他很早就预感他活不长，自称要创造一个―紧迫的狄兰‖，一个有着自我毁灭激情的诗人。他从本质上讲是一个浪漫主义者。他十九岁时出版了第一本诗集，立即引起了诗界的注意，接着他移居伦敦，两年后又以第二本诗集赢得了许多著名诗人的赞扬，1946年出版的《死亡与出场》更为不同凡响。这时他不仅轻而易举地走进了英国当代大诗人的行列，而且催生了摹仿他的―新启示‖诗派（又称为―天启派‖）。 【注4】罗尔德?达尔（Roald Dahl，1916年9月13日—1990年11月23日），是挪威籍的英国杰出儿童文学作家、剧作家和短篇小说作家，作品流传于大人或小孩中，极为知名。 他比较著名的作品有：查理与巧克力工厂（Charlie and the Chocolate Factory）、詹姆斯与大仙桃（James and the Giant Peach）、玛蒂尔达（Matilda）、女巫（The Witches）、吹梦巨人（The BFG）和独闯天下。
【注5】约瑟夫?鲁德亚德?吉卜林（Joseph Rudyard Kipling，1865年12月30日－1936年1月18日，又译吉普林或卢亚德?吉卜龄），生于印度孟买，英国作家及诗人。主要著作有儿童故事《丛林奇谭》（The Jungle Book，1894年）、印度侦探小说《基姆》（Kim，1901年）、 诗集《营房谣》（Gunga Din，1892年）、短诗《如果》（If—，1895年）以及许多脍炙人口的短篇小说。他是英国19世纪至20世纪中一位很受欢迎的散文作家[1]，被誉为―短篇小说艺术创新之人‖。吉卜林的作品在20世纪初的世界文坛产生了很大的影响，他本人也在1907年获得了诺贝尔文学奖。他是第一个英国诺贝尔文学奖获得者，也是至今诺贝尔文学奖最年轻的获得者。此外，他也曾被授予英国爵士头衔和英国桂冠诗人的头衔，但都被他放弃了。由于吉卜林所生活的年代正值欧洲殖民国家向其他国家疯狂地扩张，
11
经济学人中文网
他的部分作品也被有些人指责为带有明显的帝国主义和种族主义色彩，长期以来人们对他的评价各持一端，极为矛盾，他笔下的文学形象往往既是忠心爱国和信守传统，又是野蛮和侵略的代表。然而近年来，随着殖民时代的远去，吉卜林也以其作品高超的文学性和复杂性，越来越受到人们的尊敬。 http://bbs.ecocn.org/thread-180365-1-1.html 译者：小本子
[2013.02.02] Business 商业：全球利基市场
Business 商业
Global niche players 全球利基市场
Nordic companies have coped well with globalisation, but need new blood 面对全球化，北欧公司虽应付自如，仍需新鲜血液 Feb 2nd 2013 |From the print edition
NOVO NORDISK HAS the sheen of a global champion. Its corporate headquarters near Copenhagen is decorated with freshly cut flowers and thought-provoking sculptures, with little bowls of fruit and nuts dotted here and there. The CEO and his fellow executives work from a large open-plan office.
诺和诺德是熠熠生辉的全球性大公司。它位于哥本哈根附近的总部，饰有修剪一新的花朵和颇具深意的雕塑，并随处可见小碗盛装的水果和坚果。一个巨大的开放式办公室是公司的CEO和其他行政人员的工作地点。
That is all as it should be. Novo produces half the world‘s medical insulin and frequently generates shareholder returns approaching 30%. The world market for insulin is growing fast: about 346m people already suffer from diabetes and the number will grow as the emerging world gets richer. Novo is well placed to remain the world‘s leading insulin producer for years to come.
The Vikings‘ modern descendants believe they can turn globalisation to their advantage. They excel at producing born-global companies. Ericsson, founded in 1876, started selling phones in China in the 1890s. They also outperform more muscular competitors. Torben Pedersen, of the Copenhagen Business School, points out that Nordic countries are past masters at adjusting to rules dictated by big countries such as Germany or America. Surely they can cope with China and India?
一切本当如此。全球一半的医用胰岛素产自诺和诺德，其持股人的收益通常高达30%。全球胰岛素市场发展迅猛：目前已有3.46亿人罹患糖尿病；随着新兴世界的国家愈加富裕，这一数字还会增长。因此，在未来的几年内，诺和诺德将无可争议地稳座世界胰岛素生产老大的地位。这些古老维京人的现代后裔相信，全球化可为己所用。他们的出色之处在于：创建具有全球性大公司潜质的企业。成立于1876年的爱立信公司，在19世纪90年代就在中国销售电话。他们甚至打败了那些更强大的竞争者们。来自哥本哈根商业学校的托本.派德森指出：在由德国或美国这样的大国制定的游戏规则中，北欧国家适应良好，游刃有余。因此，应付中国或印度应该是绰绰有余了吧？
Alas, the logic that destroyed brawnwork such as shipbuilding and textile manufacturing is now moving on to brainwork. The best Nordic companies are transforming themselves from export machines into global networks. Ericsson, for example, has reduced the number of workers it employs in Sweden from 31,000 in 2001 to 18,000 today. Medium-sized companies are taking advantage of low production costs in the Baltic states as well as in China and India. In turn, foreigners are invading the Vikings‘ strongholds. Volvo, Sweden‘s fabled car company, has been swallowed by a Chinese upstart, Geely. Danisco, a Danish food-ingredients company, has been taken over by America‘s DuPont. Ericsson has sold its handset division to Sony. Nokia is a shadow of its former self.
12
经济学人中文网
然而，曾经摧毁过造船或纺织这样重型产业的商业逻辑，开始向智力产业蔓延。一流的北欧公司，正由出口机器的角色转变为全球性网络。例如，艾立信将公司在瑞典的员工数由2001年31，000人裁至18，000。中型企业正在利用波罗地海国家、中国和印度的低生产成本。与此同时，外国企业也在入侵维京人的堡垒。瑞典的曾经的汽车神话沃尔沃，已被一家中国新兴企业吉利所收购。丹麦的食品配料公司丹尼斯克，也被美国的杜邦公司接手。爱立信把它的手机部门卖给了索尼。而诺基亚，已是大不如前了。
The Nordic countries have an impressive number of globally competitive companies. Denmark is a world leader in hearing aids (Oticon), shipping (Maersk), toys (Lego), drink (Carlsberg) and windpower (with more than 200 companies that account for a third of the world‘s wind-turbine market). Novo Nordisk is at the centre of a biotech cluster, dubbed Medicon Valley, that stretches from Copenhagen to Malm? in neighbouring Sweden and has an annual turnover of