Bonjour et bienvenue à “Anglais pour les économistes,” épisode 71. Today we’re going to talk about a recent article published by Paul Krugman in the New York Times newsletter on February 3rd. Le titre de l'article est “Se débrouiller: La domination du dollar est-elle menacée?“. In this article, he explores the future of the US dollar as a global reserve currency.
Se débrouiller
So what on earth does “Wonking Out” mean? Le terme “wonking” refers to discussing complex and technical issues related to public policy or economics. And a ‘wonk’ is someone who is highly knowledgeable and passionate about these issues. The term is informal, but it is frequently found in newspaper and magazine articles. It is a funny-sounding word, isn’t it? And remember, it is informal. But if you are someone who is passionate about public policy or economics, guess what? You are a wonk. And if you get involved in a technical discussion with somebody about economics, you could say that you are “wonking out”.
In this article, Krugman explores whether or not the US dollar is at risk of losing its position as the dominant global currency. Krugman notes that while there is recent speculation about the future of the dollar’s international dominance, this is not a new question. He wrote about it over four decades ago and concluded that an end to dollar dominance was possible but not probable. He also noted that it wouldn’t make much of a difference even if it did happen.
Krugman also discusses the recent hype around cryptocurrencies and how some members of the crypto cult believe that Bitcoin or one of its rivals will replace the dollar any day now. He also explores the idea that some regimes will turn away from the dollar to protect themselves against sanctions imposed by the US.
Krugman concludes that the dollar’s dominance isn’t under threat and even if it were, it wouldn’t be a big deal, ou en d'autres termes, it wouldn’t be that important for the US economy.
Expression idiomatique: A Drop in the Bucket
This is a good opportunity to introduce you to a useful idiomatic expression. Écoutez attentivement, the idiomatic expression we’re going to focus on today is “a drop in the bucket.” This phrase refers to a small and insignificant amount in comparison to the whole. Dans le cadre de l'article, Krugman argues that the potential loss of dollar dominance would have minimal impact on the US economy, making it “a drop in the bucket.”
Cours d'anglais pour économistes
Remember friends, si vous travaillez dans des domaines liés à l'économie et que vous souhaitez améliorer votre anglais, J'offre private English classes tailored specifically to your needs. Dans ces cours, we’ll focus on improving your language skills related to economics and finance. Visitez mon site web, EnglishForEconomists.com, pour plus d'informations. J'ai récemment eu quelques espaces libres dans mon emploi du temps, donc si ça t'intéresse, fais-moi savoir.
Révision de vocabulaire
In summary, aujourd'hui tu as appris:
Le terme “wonking” and how it refers to discussing complex and technical issues related to public policy or economics. And a ‘wonk’ is someone who is highly knowledgeable and passionate about these issues. The term is informal, but it is frequently found in newspaper and magazine articles.
L'expression idiomatique “a drop in the bucket,” which refers to a small and insignificant amount in comparison to the whole.
C'est tout pour l'épisode d'aujourd'hui de “Anglais pour les économistes.” Thank you for listening, and I’ll be back soon with more language lessons for economists.
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