经济学人下载:灾难来袭日本,大自然的报复

As for the future, Hideaki Shiroyama, a public-policy expert at the University of Tokyo, says a big indication of Japan’s willingness to shake off its lethargy will be the inevitable debate on nuclear energy that emerges from the disaster. Part of the public scepticism about the industry, he believes, stems from a regulatory structure that remains mired in the past. The industry is fiercely tribal, and regulators are too close to the utilities. Even before the emergency, he says, calls from within the industry for change went unheard.

东京大学一位公共政策专家秀明城山说将来日本力图摆脱阴霾的一大征兆就是一场不可避免的争论，而焦点就是在灾难后凸显的对核能的利用问题。他认为大众对于核能工业的怀疑部分源自于过去那种难以自保的管理结构。核能产业派系竞争激烈，管理者与公共事业公司交往过密。即便是灾难发生之前，产业内部要求变革的要求也石沉大海。

Similarly, he says Japan’s policy towards rebuilding fishing communities such as Rikuzentakata will be a chance to think creatively. An enlightened response would be for many of the demolished communities to be abandoned for ever, because in Japan’s greying society their residents are mainly pensioners. It would make more sense to rehouse them in higher-density communities closer to shops and hospitals. But even those whose houses have been destroyed by the tsunami are loth to leave—these are ancestral plots that are meant to stay in the family. And the fishing grounds are rich. Since Japan instinctively solves any economic problem by throwing concrete and dollops of public money at it (tight as money is), the elderly will probably get their way.

他还说，同核工业改革一样，在重建如陆前高田这样的渔村时我们要进行创造性思考。一个让人眼前一亮的想法是永远抛弃这些被摧毁的渔村。这是因为日本社会老龄化加剧，这里的大部分居民都是养老金持有者。将他们安置到人口密度更高，距离商店，医院更近的社区会显得更有意义。不过，尽管房屋已经不再，这些人还是不愿离开，对祖先的不舍让他们想要守住这个曾经生活的家园。除此之外，这里的渔场也十分富饶。由于日本总是通过建设和投入公共资金的方式克服经济危机，这些老年人很可能给他们带来障碍。

The rebuilding, as well as the discussion about Japan’s future energy sources, might be easier if the political system encouraged debate and compromise, rather than partisan gridlock. To rebuild Japan, the public spirit shown by citizens in the face of today’s catastrophe needs to inspire the political class, promoting collaboration and unity. As Mr Kan says, Japan has to pull together. If the earthquake helps Japan repair its social fabric and recover its sense of purpose, it may yet bring something other than tragedy in its wake.

如果日本的政治体制中能够包容更多的争论和妥协，而不是党派竞争，那么关于重建以及日本未来能源的讨论可能会更容易一些。想要重建日本，公众在灾难面前所展示出的公共精神应该让政治家们有所触动。他们要学会团结和合作。正如首相菅直人所说日本人应该抱成一团。如果这次地震可以帮助日本修复破损的社会关系，重拾目标，那么日本觉醒的过程中它所带来的不是悲剧，而是一些更有价值的东西。