60 Second Adventures in Economics—Number 2:The Paradox of Thrift
《60秒經濟學探奇》第二節:節約悖論
Much like a child getting his pocket money, one of the biggest economic questions is still whether it's better to save or spend.
就像小孩拿到零花錢一樣,經濟中最大的一個問題仍然是:存還是花。
Free-marketeers like Hayek and Milton Friedman say that, even in difficult times, it's best to be thrifty and save.
自由市場學者如哈耶克·米爾頓·弗里德曼認為哪怕在最艱難的時期,也應該節約,存錢。
Banks then channel the savings into investment, in new plants, skills and techniques that let us produce more.
銀行將這些儲蓄引入到投資領域,建立新工廠,培訓新技能,研發新技術,讓產品生產更多。

And even if this new technology destroys jobs, wages will drop,
哪怕新技術會減少人的工作機會,工資會下降,
and businesses hire more people—so unemployment falls again.
生意人會招募更多人,這樣失業率又會降低。
Simple. At least in the long run... But then a "live-fast-die-young" kinda chap called John Maynard Keynes
很簡單 至少長期來看……但后來 一個崇尚“過得快活,死了也值”的伙計,約翰·梅納德·凱恩斯,
cheerfully pointed out that "in the long run we're all dead".
歡快地指出,“長期來看,我們都死了”。
So, to avoid the misery of unemployment, the government should instead spend money to create jobs.
為了避免失業的痛苦,政府需要花錢來創造工作。
Whereas if the government tightens its belt when people and businesses are doing the same,
如果政府勒緊褲腰帶,生意人也是如此,
less is spent, so unemployment gets even worse. That is the paradox of thrift.
花得更少,失業率會更糟。這就是節約悖論。
So instead they should spend now and tax later when everyone's happy to pay
所以政府應該先花錢 之后每個人高興后再征稅,
Though making people happy to pay tax was something even Keynes didn't solve.
雖然如何讓人樂于交稅,連凱因斯也無法解決。