低利率意味着不公平|经济学人(2)

Metaphor ：象征；隐喻；暗喻

Imagine, Fisher wrote in "The Theoryof Interest" in 1930, a group ofsailors ship wrecked on a barren island withonly their stores of hardtack to sustain them. [好文分享：www.11jj.com]

假设，费雪在1930年的《利息理论》中写道，一群船员在一次船只失事中落难到了一座贫瘠的岛屿上，只有储备的硬面包来维持生计。

a group of ：一群

Wreck ：使遇难；使失事

On what terms would sailors borrow and lendbiscuits among themselves?

船员相互间会以何种条件借入和出借干粮呢?

In this forlorneconomy, what rate of interest would prevail?

在这个孤立无助的经济体中，何种利率会占上风呢?

Forlorn ：渺茫的;绝望的;凄凉的;被弃置的

Prevail ：获胜，占优势;说服;流行，盛行;

One might think the answer depends on thecharacter of the unfortunate sailors.

人们或许会认为，答案取决于不幸的船员的人品。

Interest, in many people"s minds, is areward for deferring gratification.

在许多人的头脑中，利息是对推迟满足感的奖赏。

That is one reason why low interestrates are widely perceived as unjust.