Finland is the world's most prosperous nation, not only in monetary matters but in the quality of its democracy and governance, according to the latest Prosperity Index, to be launched by Legatum, the London-based think-tank, this week.
據列格坦(Legatum)本周將公布的最新繁榮指數(Prosperity Index)顯示，芬蘭是全球最繁榮的國家，這不僅是就物質財富而言，而且是就民主和治理的質量而言。列格坦是一家總部位于倫敦的智庫機構。

Finland took first prize – up from third last year – and is followed by Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Zimbabwe ranks last, just ahead of Sudan and Yemen.
在全球最繁榮國家排行榜上，芬蘭去年名列第三，今年躍居榜首。緊隨其后的是瑞士以及斯堪的納維亞國家瑞典、丹麥和挪威。津巴布韋位居末位，其次是蘇丹和也門。

The United States comes in ninth, beating Britain, Germany and France, which all ranked in the top 20. Four-fifths of the top 20-ranked countries are in North America and Europe.
美國名列第九，排在英國、德國和法國之前，后三者均在前20位之列。在排名前20位的國家中，五分之四位于北美和歐洲。

Legatum says it is trying to encourage the consideration of factors such as health, freedom, security and political governance as keys to prosperity, rather than material wealth alone.
列格坦表示，它試圖鼓勵一種做法，即考慮健康、自由、安全和政治治理等因素，視其為實現繁榮的關鍵，而不是只關注物質財富。

Its report follows a proclamation in September by a commission created by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, which said a country's gross domestic product is an insufficient measure of wellbeing.
在列格坦這份報告公布之前，由法國總統尼古拉•薩科齊(Nicolas Sarkozy)建立的一個委員會發布公告稱，國內生產總值(GDP)這一指標并不足以衡量一國的福祉。

“The Sarkozy commission has helped advance the debate,” said Dr William Inboden, senior vice-president at Legatum. “We need broader measurements of what is working and what isn't.”
列格坦高級副總裁威廉•因博登博士(William Inboden)表示：“薩科齊的委員會幫助推動了這場辯論。對于何種因素正在促進繁榮、何種因素沒有促進繁榮，我們需要采用更廣泛的衡量標準。”

The Prosperity Index found a separation between growing prosperity in India and Brazil compared with the progress measured in fellow “Brics” China and Russia, both of which lag behind on issues of governance and political freedom.
繁榮指數顯示，印度和巴西的繁榮程度正不斷提升；而同為“金磚四國”的中國和俄羅斯所取得的進展則與前兩者存在差距。中俄兩國在治理和政治自由這些項目上滯后。

“We think there may be some warning signs for Russia and China versus some more positive indicators for Brazil and India,” said Dr Inboden.
因博登博士表示：“我們認為，俄羅斯和中國的某些指標或許應引起警惕，而巴西和印度的某些指標則更為積極。”

“We see a real divide. The rule of law, transparency and accountability are important for sustainable growth.”
“我們看到切實的差別。法治、透明度和問責制，這些對于可持續增長是十分重要的。”

The results lend legitimacy to the adage that “money can't buy happiness”. In the world's poorest countries, money has a far greater effect on satisfaction than in the wealthier countries.
這份報告的結果驗證了那句格言：“金錢買不到幸福”。在全球最貧窮的國家中，金錢更能令人獲得滿足感，其效果要比在較富裕國家大得多。