is probably the most important economic question of the moment.

可能是當前最重要的經濟議題

I'm Noah Feldman. This is The Method,

我是 Noah Feldman，您正在觀賞 The Method，

where I break down hard questions into the ideas and values behind them.

在這節目裡我會針對複雜的問題，分析背後的想法與價值

Start with the president's view.

我們從總統的觀點開始看，

TRUMP: We have a $500 billion trade deficit with China.

川普總統：我們和中國間有五千億美元的貿易逆差

TRUMP: It's the greatest theft in the history of the world.

川普總統：這是世界史上最大宗的偷竊

A trade deficit simply measures how much stuff our country is buying, from other countries,

貿易逆差純粹是用來衡量我們國家向外購買了多少東西

and how much stuff they're buying from us.

而其他國家又從我們這裡買了多少

That's the number that a trade deficit gives you,

貿易逆差指出的就是這個數目，

And according to the president, it's a powerful symbol

而就總統看來，這是一個影響力強大的指標

indicating that the United States when we're in deficit

當美國處於貿易逆差，

isn't making enough stuff.

所反映的是美國製造的東西不夠

If we don't make enough stuff, runs the argument,

而根據總統的論點，如果我們東西做得不夠多，

we're going to lose manufacturing jobs.

我們就會流失製造業的工作機會

Manufacturing jobs are what make a country great,

正是製造業讓一個國家壯盛起來，

by giving us a good and powerful middle class.

它打造出優良而具影響力的中產階級

And what's more— the United States should use all of the power at its disposal to try to force other countries

更重要的是，美國應該全力嘗試去強迫其他國家

into reducing their trade deficits with us,

減少與美國的貿易逆差，

because that is supposed to create more jobs.

這樣一來就會出現更多工作機會

On the other hand, most economists think that a trade deficit is almost completely unimportant,

另一方面，多數經濟學家認為貿易逆差幾乎是無關緊要的

because in the end, if we're buying stuff from other countries,

因為到頭來，當我們向其他國家購買東西，

we're buying that with money that we have, that we've earned.

用的是我們所擁有 、所賺來的金錢

By other countries investing in us ,

藉由他國對我國的投資，

and by not focusing on the purchase of stuff,

而不只看重東西購買本身，

our economy is freed up to do a lot of other things—

我國的經濟就會釋放出彈性空間，去從事其他更多的經濟活動

to build the internet, to build technology, to deliver services—

架構網際網路 、發展科技 、提供服務 ──

all the kinds of things that our modern economy does that go way beyond stuff.

這些參與我國現代經濟的要素都超越了物質本身

And after all, the problem with stuff is

更何況，只看重物質勢必會有問題：

someone else can almost always make it more cheaply.

幾乎總會有其他人，能以更便宜的價格製造出同樣的東西

According to this view it's a big mistake to focus symbolically on how much stuff you make.

因此如果只盯著指標、在意我國製造出的物品數量，顯然會是個錯誤

It's guaranteed to push your economy backwards rather than pushing it forwards.

該決策肯定會阻礙、而非促進經濟成長

So do you think that trade deficits are a very useful symbol of making stuff,

關於物品製造，你認為貿易逆差是個非常實用的指標，

and that if you don't make stuff your country declines?

若做得不夠，國家將會走下坡嗎？

Or do you think that ultimately, economics is about more than stuff,

或者你同意最終經濟遠遠超越物質本身，

but actually about goods, services and investment.

還涵蓋了貨物、服務和投資呢？

Make your choice, and you'll know who you are.

做出你的抉擇，你會更確定自己的立場

What do you think? Let us know in the comments,

你認為呢？請在留言區告訴我們

and by all means tell us if you have ideas or questions for future episodes.

另外對於之後的節目內容若有任何想法或疑問，也請務必讓我們知道

Thanks for watching.

謝謝收看！