- Published on
美国正发生最大规模的财富转移(上)
- Authors
一场代际财富转移正在美国发生，以往的任何一次与之相比都相形见绌。
双语精读
The Greatest Wealth Transfer in History Is Here, With Familiar (Rich) Winners
史上最大规模的财富转移正在发生，赢家依然是富人
An inter-generational transfer of wealth is in motion in America -- and it will dwarf any of the past.
一场代际财富转移正在美国发生，以往的任何一次与之相比都相形见绌。
Of the 73 million baby boomers, the youngest are turning 60. The oldest boomers are nearing 80.
在7300万婴儿潮一代人中，最年轻的快满60岁了。年龄最大的也接近80岁了。
Born in midcentury as U.S. birthrates surged in tandem with an enormous leap in prosperity after the Depression and World War II, boomers are now beginning to die in larger numbers, along with Americans over 80.
婴儿潮一代出生于二十世纪中叶，伴随着大萧条和二战后的巨大繁荣，美国出生率飙升。现在，数量更多的婴儿潮一代以及80岁以上的美国人开始衰老去世。
Most will leave behind thousands of dollars, a home or not much at all. Others are leaving their heirs hundreds of thousands, or millions, or billions of dollars in various assets.
大多数人会留下几千或几万美元、一套房子，或者寥寥无几的东西。其他人则会给他们的继承人留下价值数十万、数百万或数十亿美元的各种资产。
In 1989, total family wealth in the United States was about 140 trillion. Of the 16 trillion will be transferred within the next decade.
1989年，经通胀调整后的美国家庭财富总额约为38万亿美元。到2022年，这一财富增至三倍多，达到140万亿美元。到2045年，预计将有84万亿美元从老年人那里传给千禧一代和X世代，其中16万亿美元将在未来十年内进行转移。
Heirs increasingly don't need to wait for the passing of elders to directly benefit from family money, a result of the bursting popularity of "giving while living" -- including property purchases, repeated tax-free cash transfers of estate money, and more -- providing millions a head start.
越来越多的继承人不需要等到长辈去世后，才能直接从家庭财富中受益，这是"在世的时候就赠予遗产"突然流行的结果，其中包括购买房产、将遗产以现金形式进行多次赠予而不用交税等等，这将让数百万人赢在起跑线上。
It's no longer "an oncoming phenomenon," said Douglas Boneparth, a 38-year-old financial adviser whose New York firm caters to affluent millennials. "It's present-day."
38岁的财务顾问道格拉斯·伯恩帕思说，这不再是"一个即将到来的现象，这就是现在的情况"。他的公司位于纽约，为富裕的千禧一代提供服务。
And it's already impacting the broader economy, greasing the wheels of social mobility for some and leaving obstacles for those left out as the cost of living, housing and raising families surge.
这一现象已经影响了更广泛的经济，为一些人的社会流动提供了润滑剂，并为其他落后的人带来障碍，因为生活、住房和养育成本在飙升。
The wealthiest 10 percent of households will be giving and receiving a majority of the riches. Within that range, the top 1 percent -- which holds about as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent, and is predominantly white -- will dictate the broadest share of the money flow.
最富有的10%的家庭将给出和接受大部分财富。在这个范围内，最富有的1%的人--他们拥有的财富与最底层的90%的人差不多，而且主要是白人--将决定资金流动中的最大份额。
The more diverse bottom 50 percent of households will account for only 8 percent of the transfers.
成分更多元的底层50%的家庭将只占财富转移的8%。
A key reason there are such large soon-to-be-inherited sums is the uneven way boomers superbly benefited from price growth in the financial and housing markets.
出现如此庞大的即将继承的巨额资金，其中一个关键原因是婴儿潮一代以并不平等的方式从金融和房地产市场的价格增长中获得了极大的好处。
The average price of a U.S. house has risen about 500 percent since 1983, when most baby boomers were in their 20s and 30s, prime years for household formation.
自1983年以来，美国房屋的平均价格上涨了约500%，当时大多数婴儿潮一代都在20多岁和30多岁，是组建家庭的黄金年龄段。
词汇预习
financial [高考]
美[faɪˈnænʃl] | 英[faɪˈnænʃl]
adj. 金融的；财政的；[非正式]有钱的
increasingly [高考]
美[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli] | 英[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli]
adv. 逐渐地；越来越多地
economy [高考]
美[ɪˈkɑːnəmi] | 英[ɪˈkɒnəmi]
n. 经济；节约 adj. 经济的；廉价的
property [高考]
美[ˈprɑːpərti] | 英[ˈprɒpəti]
n. 财产；所有物；地产，房地产；性质；道具
household [高考]
美[ˈhaʊshoʊld] | 英[ˈhaʊshəʊld]
n. 家庭；户 adj. 家庭的；家喻户晓的
enormous [高考]
美[ɪˈnɔːrməs] | 英[ɪˈnɔːməs]
adj. 巨大的；庞大的
leap [高考]
美[liːp] | 英[liːp]
v. 跳跃；跃过；跃 n. 跳跃；跃
adviser [高考]
美[ədˈvaɪzər] | 英[ədˈvaɪzə(r)]
n. 顾问；指导教授；劝告者
transfer [高考]
美[trænsˈfɜːr , ˈtrænsfɜːr] | 英[trænsˈfɜː(r) , ˈtrænsfɜː(r)]
v. 转移；调任；转乘 n. 迁移；移动；换车；汇兑
prime [高考]
美[praɪm] | 英[praɪm]
adj. 主要的; 基本的; 最好的; 首选的 n. 鼎盛时期 v. 事先指点; 事先准备
motion [高考]
美[ˈmoʊʃn] | 英[ˈməʊʃn]
n. 移动；动作；打手势；示意；提议；大便 v. 示意；运动；向 ... 打手势
mobility [高考]
美[moʊˈbɪləti] | 英[məʊˈbɪləti]
n. 流动性；机动性；情感不定
formation [高考]
美[fɔːrˈmeɪʃn] | 英[fɔːˈmeɪʃn]
n. 形成；队形；编队；构造；[地]地层
estate [高考]
美[ɪˈsteɪt] | 英[ɪˈsteɪt]
n. 财产；遗产；房地产；状态；庄园
within [高考]
美[wɪˈðɪn] | 英[wɪˈðɪn]
prep. 在(某段时间、距离或范围)内；在…里面 adv. 在…里面 n. 内部
growth [高考]
美[ɡroʊθ] | 英[ɡrəʊθ]
n. 【U】增长；生长；发展；种植 n. 【C】生长物；【医】瘤;赘生物
range [高考]
美[reɪndʒ] | 英[reɪndʒ]
n.范围; 射程; 类别; （山脉，房屋等的）排列 vi.搜索; 变化; 延伸; 漫游 vt.排列; （按一定位置或顺序）排序; 把…分类; 徘徊 adj.牧场的，放牧区的
decade [高考]
美[ˈdekeɪd] | 英[ˈdekeɪd]
n. 十年，十年间，十年期（尤指一个年代)
cash [高考]
美[kæʃ] | 英[kæʃ]
n. 现金 vt. 付现款；兑现 adj. 现金的
phenomenon [高考]
美[fəˈnɑːmɪnən] | 英[fəˈnɒmɪnən]
n. 现象；奇人；奇事
majority [高考]
美[məˈdʒɔːrəti] | 英[məˈdʒɒrəti]
n. 大多数；大部分；多数票；（获胜的）票数
diverse [高考]
美[daɪˈvɜːrs] | 英[daɪˈvɜːs]
adj. 不同的；多种多样的
tax [高考]
美[tæks] | 英[tæks]
n. 税；负担 v. 斥责；课税；使 ... 负重荷
benefit from [高考]
美[ˈbɛnəfɪt frʌm] | 英[ˈbenifit frɔm]
得益于； 从 ... 得到好处
account for [高考]
美[əˈkaʊnt fɔːr] | 英[əˈkaʊnt fɔː(r)]
vt. (在数量方面)占；说明(原因等)； 对 ... 负责；导致，引起；击毙，杀死；报账
living [高考]
美[ˈlɪvɪŋ] | 英[ˈlɪvɪŋ]
adj. 活着的；生动的 n. 生活；生计
housing [高考]
美[ˈhaʊzɪŋ] | 英[ˈhaʊzɪŋ]
n. 房屋；外壳；外套；外罩；住宅；卡箍；遮盖物；(芯片的)封装
dwarf [高考]
美[dwɔːrf] | 英[dwɔːf]
n. 矮子；侏儒 vt. 使矮小 vi. 变小
turning [高考]
美[ˈtɜːrnɪŋ] | 英[ˈtɜːnɪŋ]
n. 旋转；回转；转向
prosperity [四级]
美[prɑːˈsperəti] | 英[prɒˈsperəti]
n. 繁荣；兴旺
dictate [四级]
美[ˈdɪkteɪt] | 英[dɪkˈteɪt]
vi. 听写 vt. 口授；规定；决定，影响 n. 命令，支配，主宰；指挥；指令
inflation [四级]
美[ɪnˈfleɪʃn] | 英[ɪnˈfleɪʃn]
n. 通货膨胀；膨胀
surge [四级]
美[sɜːrdʒ] | 英[sɜːdʒ]
n. 汹涌；波涛；猛增 v. 汹涌；涌起；激增；[海]缆绳滑脱
generational [四级]
美[ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃənl] | 英[ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃənl]
adj. 世代的
present-day [四级]
美[ˌpreznt ˈdeɪ] | 英[ˌpreznt ˈdeɪ]
adj. 当前的；当代的
along with [四级]
美[əˈlɔːŋ wɪð] | 英[əˈlɒŋ wɪð]
与...在一起；在...以外；沿着；随着；（除…之外）又…，加之
leave behind [四级]
美[liːv bɪ'haɪnd] | 英[liːv bɪ'haɪnd]
留下； 遗留
affluent [六级]
美[ˈæfluənt] | 英[ˈæfluənt]
adj. 富裕的 n. 支流
uneven [六级]
美[ʌnˈiːvn] | 英[ʌnˈiːvn]
adj. 不平坦的；不均匀的；奇数的；不规律的
trillion [六级]
美[ˈtrɪljən] | 英[ˈtrɪljən]
n. 大量；兆；万亿 adj. 兆的
oncoming [专八]
美[ˈɑnkʌmɪŋ] | 英[ˈɒnkʌmɪŋ]
adj. 接近的；即将到来的 n. 接近
predominantly [考研]
美[prɪˈdɑːmɪnəntli] | 英[prɪˈdɒmɪnəntli]
adv. 主要地；占优势地；压倒性地
don [托福]
美[dɑn] | 英[dɒn]
n. 先生（西班牙用语）；(牛津、剑桥大学的)指导教师 v. 穿上
inherited [雅思]
美[ɪn'herɪtɪd] | 英[ɪn'herɪtɪd]
adj. 继承的；遗传的
重点讲解
The Greatest Wealth Transfer in History Is Here, With Familiar (Rich) Winners
史上最大规模的财富转移正在发生，赢家依然是富人
dwarf v. 使显得矮小；使相形见绌；超过
【例】The new skyscraper will dwarf all those near it.
新的摩天大楼会让周围其他楼房显得矮小。
【近义词】pale v. 显得逊色
【例】She paled next to the smartly dressed young lady.
她在那个衣着光鲜的年轻女士身边，显得黯然失色。
An inter-generational transfer of wealth is in motion in America -- and it will dwarf any of the past.
一场代际财富转移正在美国发生，以往的任何一次与之相比都相形见绌。
dwarf v. 使显得矮小；使相形见绌；超过
【例】The new skyscraper will dwarf all those near it.
新的摩天大楼会让周围其他楼房显得矮小。
【近义词】pale v. 显得逊色
【例】She paled next to the smartly dressed young lady.
她在那个衣着光鲜的年轻女士身边，显得黯然失色。
Of the 73 million baby boomers, the youngest are turning 60. The oldest boomers are nearing 80.
在7300万婴儿潮一代人中，最年轻的快满60岁了。年龄最大的也接近80岁了。
in tandem with
1. 同时发生
【例】People’s attitudes towards remote working have changed in tandem with the changes brought by the pandemic.
随着疫情带来各种改变，人们对远程办公的态度也同时发生了变化。
2. 协同进行
【例】The two groups worked in tandem with each other on this project.
两个小组在这次项目中协同配合。
leap in sth 某方面的飞跃
【例】a leap in profits 利润猛增
Born in midcentury as U.S. birthrates surged in tandem with an enormous leap in prosperity after the Depression and World War II, boomers are now beginning to die in larger numbers, along with Americans over 80.
婴儿潮一代出生于二十世纪中叶，伴随着大萧条和二战后的巨大繁荣，美国出生率飙升。现在，数量更多的婴儿潮一代以及80岁以上的美国人开始衰老去世。
in tandem with
1. 同时发生
【例】People’s attitudes towards remote working have changed in tandem with the changes brought by the pandemic.
随着疫情带来各种改变，人们对远程办公的态度也同时发生了变化。
2. 协同进行
【例】The two groups worked in tandem with each other on this project.
两个小组在这次项目中协同配合。
leap in sth 某方面的飞跃
【例】a leap in profits 利润猛增
Most will leave behind thousands of dollars, a home or not much at all. Others are leaving their heirs hundreds of thousands, or millions, or billions of dollars in various assets.
大多数人会留下几千或几万美元、一套房子，或者寥寥无几的东西。其他人则会给他们的继承人留下价值数十万、数百万或数十亿美元的各种资产。
heir n. 继承人
【例】the heir to a fortune/the throne 财产/王位继承人
【近义词】inheritor n. （文化、思想等的）继承人
【例】the inheritors of a cultural tradition/an intangible cultural heritage 文化传统的继承人/非遗传承人
project v.
1. 计划；规划
【例】a projected visit 计划进行的访问
2. 预测；预计
【例】It is projected that the building will cost $5 million.
预计建这栋楼要花500万美元。
In 1989, total family wealth in the United States was about 140 trillion. Of the 16 trillion will be transferred within the next decade.
1989年，经通胀调整后的美国家庭财富总额约为38万亿美元。到2022年，这一财富增至三倍多，达到140万亿美元。到2045年，预计将有84万亿美元从老年人那里传给千禧一代和X世代，其中16万亿美元将在未来十年内进行转移。
heir n. 继承人
【例】the heir to a fortune/the throne 财产/王位继承人
【近义词】inheritor n. （文化、思想等的）继承人
【例】the inheritors of a cultural tradition/an intangible cultural heritage 文化传统的继承人/非遗传承人
project v.
1. 计划；规划
【例】a projected visit 计划进行的访问
2. 预测；预计
【例】It is projected that the building will cost $5 million.
预计建这栋楼要花500万美元。
Heirs increasingly don't need to wait for the passing of elders to directly benefit from family money, a result of the bursting popularity of "giving while living" -- including property purchases, repeated tax-free cash transfers of estate money, and more -- providing millions a head start.
越来越多的继承人不需要等到长辈去世后，才能直接从家庭财富中受益，这是"在世的时候就赠予遗产"突然流行的结果，其中包括购买房产、将遗产以现金形式进行多次赠予而不用交税等等，这将让数百万人赢在起跑线上。
a head start 起步前的优势
【例】You've got a head start on others trying to get the job because you've got relevant work experience.
你应聘这份工作比其他人有先发优势，因为你有相关工作经验。
It's no longer "an oncoming phenomenon," said Douglas Boneparth, a 38-year-old financial adviser whose New York firm caters to affluent millennials. "It's present-day."
38岁的财务顾问道格拉斯·伯恩帕思说，这不再是"一个即将到来的现象，这就是现在的情况"。他的公司位于纽约，为富裕的千禧一代提供服务。
cater to
1. 满足需要；提供某人需要的东西
【例】The restaurant mainly caters to tourists.
这个餐馆主要做游客的生意。
2. 迎合
【例】Why should you cater to his every whim?
你为什么要迎合他的各种突发奇想呢？
grease the wheels （尤指在商业上或政治上）起促进作用
【例】They hoped that the tax cuts would grease the wheels of the economy.
他们希望减税可以促进经济的发展。
【拓展】grease the palm 行贿；买通
【例】They crossed the border by greasing the palms of border guards.
他们买通边境警卫, 偷越了国境。
And it's already impacting the broader economy, greasing the wheels of social mobility for some and leaving obstacles for those left out as the cost of living, housing and raising families surge.
这一现象已经影响了更广泛的经济，为一些人的社会流动提供了润滑剂，并为其他落后的人带来障碍，因为生活、住房和养育成本在飙升。
cater to
1. 满足需要；提供某人需要的东西
【例】The restaurant mainly caters to tourists.
这个餐馆主要做游客的生意。
2. 迎合
【例】Why should you cater to his every whim?
你为什么要迎合他的各种突发奇想呢？
grease the wheels （尤指在商业上或政治上）起促进作用
【例】They hoped that the tax cuts would grease the wheels of the economy.
他们希望减税可以促进经济的发展。
【拓展】grease the palm 行贿；买通
【例】They crossed the border by greasing the palms of border guards.
他们买通边境警卫, 偷越了国境。
The wealthiest 10 percent of households will be giving and receiving a majority of the riches. Within that range, the top 1 percent -- which holds about as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent, and is predominantly white -- will dictate the broadest share of the money flow.
最富有的10%的家庭将给出和接受大部分财富。在这个范围内，最富有的1%的人--他们拥有的财富与最底层的90%的人差不多，而且主要是白人--将决定资金流动中的最大份额。
dictate v.
1. 口述；使听写
【例】to dictate a letter to the secretary 向秘书口述一封信
2. 发号施令；规定；支配
【例】It's generally your job that dictates where you live now.
一般说来，你住在什么地方是由你的工作决定的。
【近义词】determine v. 决定
The more diverse bottom 50 percent of households will account for only 8 percent of the transfers.
成分更多元的底层50%的家庭将只占财富转移的8%。
dictate v.
1. 口述；使听写
【例】to dictate a letter to the secretary 向秘书口述一封信
2. 发号施令；规定；支配
【例】It's generally your job that dictates where you live now.
一般说来，你住在什么地方是由你的工作决定的。
【近义词】determine v. 决定
A key reason there are such large soon-to-be-inherited sums is the uneven way boomers superbly benefited from price growth in the financial and housing markets.
出现如此庞大的即将继承的巨额资金，其中一个关键原因是婴儿潮一代以并不平等的方式从金融和房地产市场的价格增长中获得了极大的好处。
uneven adj.
1. 凹凸不平的
【例】the uneven floor 凹凸不平的地面
2. 不均衡的；不公平的
【例】an uneven distribution of resources 资源的不均衡分配
【近义词】unequal adj. 不平等的
3. 不规则的；不稳定的
【例】an uneven performance 时好时坏的表现
The average price of a U.S. house has risen about 500 percent since 1983, when most baby boomers were in their 20s and 30s, prime years for household formation.
自1983年以来，美国房屋的平均价格上涨了约500%，当时大多数婴儿潮一代都在20多岁和30多岁，是组建家庭的黄金年龄段。
prime adj.
1. 主要的；首要的
【例】the prime goal 主要的目标
2. 上乘的；最佳的；最适宜的
【例】a prime candidate 最佳候选人
课后练习
What can be learned about the transfer of wealth in America?
A. It reflects the aging of population in the country.
B. It occurs as the majority of baby boomers are dying.
C. It might cause another birthrate surge since midcentury.
D. It will involve assets of lower value due to inflation.
One of the impacts of “giving while living” is that ____.
A. the young generation will own more properties
B. the majority of millennials will be better off
C. the economic growth will be strengthened
D. the gap between rich and poor will widen
The statistics about the wealth to be transferred implied ____.
A. a growth in productivity
B. a rigid social hierarchy
C. an issue of inequality
D. a need of income tax
Baby boomers have accumulated a huge amount of wealth because ____.
A. the previous generation left them large fortunes
B. they earned high salaries when they were young
C. the value of their properties has risen substantially
D. they saved much money due to low costs of living