【雅思课外精读】地摊经济真的能促进经济繁荣吗？

　　【雅思课外精读】*注：本文摘自6月11日《经济学人》

　　Back peddling

　　回到沿街叫卖的年代

　　China once banned street vendors. Now it welcomes them

　　中国曾经禁止街头叫卖，如今又鼓励“地摊经济”

　　Some cities, however, are not so sure

　　然而，有的城市还不那么支持

　　1. IN A COUNTRY of high-tech factories and giant state-owned firms, you might not expect street hawkers to attract much attention. But in China these days, people like Shui Jin, an old lady pedalling a wooden cart laden with apricots and cherries through the narrow lanes of Suzhou, an eastern city, are in the spotlight. Both of her daughters-in-law recently lost their jobs, among the tens of millions in China hurt by the coronavirus slump. Her family needs the money she can scrape together. Whether the country needs her on the streets has become a matter for debate.

　　在一个满是高科技工厂和大型国有企业的国家，你可能从未想过街头小贩会如此引人注目。水金（音）骑着满载杏子和樱桃的车在中国东部城市苏州的狭窄小巷里叫卖，而在如今的中国，像她这样的人成了人们关注的焦点。和数千因新冠疫情而失业的人一样，水金的两个儿媳妇最近都失业了。家里需要她赚钱糊口。而这个国家是否需要她走上街头也已经成为一个热议的话题。

　　2. For years, municipal officials pushed out hawkers, trying to tidy up the colourfulhubbub that once characterised China’s cities. In the name of “civilising” urban life, they wanted to see steamed dumplings and plastic toys sold inside shopping malls, not from the back of carts. On June 1st Li Keqiang, the prime minister, seemed to signal a change, declaring that street vendors were vital to the economy. “Only when the people are in good shape can the nation be in good shape,” he said.

　　多年来，各地政府都在驱逐街头小贩，试图清除这曾是中国城市特色的喧嚣。在文明城市生活的倡议下，各地政府想让蒸饺和塑料玩具都在商场出售，而不是在各种手推车上面兜售。6月1日，李克强总理释放出改变的信号，宣布街头小贩对经济至关重要。他说，“大家都好了，国家就更好！”

　　3. That generated much buzz about the revival of China’s “street-stall economy”, as it has been called. At least 27 provinces and cities said they would welcome hawkers. Chengdu, a bustling city in Sichuan province in the south-west, was seen as a shining example. Firms there started setting up street stalls in March, creating more than 100,000 jobs, the local government says. China certainly needs to boost employment. Between 60m and 100m people—perhaps as many as 20% of non-farm workers—were out of work in April, according to Ernan Cui of Gavekal, a research firm.

　　这引发了人们对地摊经济复兴的讨论。至少有27个省市表示接受街头小贩。四川的繁华城市成都就是一个典型的例子。当地政府称当地企业三月份开始设立街头摊位，创造了10万多就业岗位。中国肯定需要促进就业。据研究公司Gavekal的Ernan Cui称，4月份有6000万到1亿人失业，可能占非农业劳动力的20%。

　　4. In small towns, officials are excited about the street-stall idea. For instance, Zhangye, a poor western town, says it will create spaces for 4,120 hawkers in its markets. But for Ms Shui, the fruit vendor in Suzhou, change has not been radical. Last year the officers who enforce urban rules would often seize her cart and fine her. Now they just tell her to move on.

　　在一些小城市，政府热烈支持地摊经济。例如，西部贫困城市张掖称，将在市场上为4120名小贩提供摊位。但对于在苏州卖水果的水金来说，变化并不是很大。去年，城管经常会没收她的推车，还会罚款，现在他们只是让她将车往前挪一挪。

　　5. Officials in China’s richest cities are afraid that encouraging street vendors will lead to a mess. “It is not for Beijing,” declared the capital city’s main newspaper. Shanghai has made it clear that it will not allow vendors to set up stalls willy-nilly. Licences must be obtained and, for those selling food, hygienic standards met.

　　一线城市担心鼓励地摊经济会带来混乱。北京主流报纸称，“地摊经济不适合北京。”上海明确表示不允许摊贩随意摆摊，销售食品必须有许可证，还要符合卫生标准。

　　6. Can the stalls, such as they are, really help the economy? Some investors see a business opportunity. The price of shares in Wuling Motors, which makes a new van that can double as a mobile kiosk, has doubled since Mr Li’s comments. Other firms that might benefit, including Yindu Kitchen, which makes portable cooking equipment, also saw their shares surge.

　　地摊经济真的能促进经济发展吗？一些投资者嗅到了商机。自李克强总理发表讲话以来，五菱汽车的股价已经上涨了一倍。五菱汽车生产了一种新型面包车，可以用作移动售货亭。其他可能受益的公司，包括生产便携式烹饪设备的银都厨房，股价也出现了飙升。

　　7. The direct impact on job creation, alas, is unlikely to be so spectacular. The demise of street stalls in recent years is only partially the result of government restrictions. It also reflects the rise of e-commerce platforms, where products are often both better and cheaper. Whether online or on the street, the main concern for vendors now is weak demand. On one historic street in Suzhou, a 62-year-old woman walks back and forth with flashing glow-sticks for sale. With few tourists, there are few buyers. She has cut her asking price from ten yuan ($1.40) to five.

　　地摊经济对就业的促进可能不会特别明显。政府的限制只是近年来街头摊位减少的部分原因。街头摊贩减少还因为电商平台的兴起，这些平台的商品往往更物美价廉。无论是在网上还是在街上，如今小贩们最担心的还是需求的疲软。在苏州一条历史悠久的街道上，一位62岁的妇女拿着荧光闪闪的荧光棒在来回走动叫卖。游客很少，买家也很少。她的要价从10元（合1.40美元）降到了5元。

　　8. But the street stalls do dovetail with a separate policy, launched last year, to develop China’s night-time economy. Suzhou and Shanghai, among other cities, have recently openedglitzy outdoor night markets. Though far more orderly and corporate than the hawkers’ free-for-all of old, they are lively. And they help the government to deliver an important message. Officials cautiously avoid proclaiming that covid-19 has been beaten in China. But thereinvigoration of street life looks like a declaration of victory.

　　但是地摊经济确实和去年中国政府推出的夜市经济不谋而合。苏州、上海和其他一些城市最近都开设了繁华的露天夜市。尽管和那些沿街叫卖的老年人相比，这些摊贩更有秩序也更加集中，但是他们也活力满满。他们帮助政府传递了一个重要信息，即中国已经战胜了新冠疫情。地摊经济的复兴看起来像是胜利的宣言。

　　9. Late one recent evening in Suzhou, thousands of people flocked to its official night market. Most were not wearing face masks, a sight unthinkable just a month ago. “I was cooped up at home for a long time,” says Cao Yunqiang, 19, visiting from Henan province, further inland. “Things aren’t fully back to normal, but it’s the right time to come out and have some fun.”

　　最近的一个晚上，成千上万的人涌向苏州一个官方开设的夜市。很多人都没有戴口罩，这在一个月前是很难想象的。“我在家憋太久了，”19岁的曹云强（音译）说。“虽然还没有完全恢复正常，但也是时候出来找点乐子了。”