英語学習

英語ニュース教材：Has Britain’s budget watchdog become too all-powerful?（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

This week, the United Kingdom is gearing up for its new Budget announcement. However, some people are concerned about the role of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR is an independent organization that checks the government’s financial plans and forecasts. Some critics argue that the OBR is acting like a “straitjacket on growth.” But what does this mean?

The OBR was set up in 2010 after the financial crisis to provide independent analysis of the UK’s public finances. Its job is to look at the government’s plans and give forecasts about the economy and public finances. This helps ensure that the government does not make unrealistic financial promises. However, some people, especially those in business and politics, feel that the OBR is too powerful. They argue that its cautious forecasts can limit the government’s ability to plan for growth and invest in new projects.

For example, if the OBR predicts low economic growth, the government might decide not to invest in infrastructure projects or other growth-stimulating activities. This could slow down economic recovery or progress. On the other hand, supporters of the OBR say that it provides a necessary check on government spending. They argue that its independence helps keep financial plans honest and prevents reckless spending.

As the Budget announcement approaches, this debate is becoming more intense. Supporters of the OBR believe that its role is crucial for maintaining trust in the government’s financial plans. Critics, however, worry that its influence might be stifling necessary economic growth. The outcome of this debate could affect how the UK manages its finances in the future and potentially influence economic policies.

In summary, while the OBR plays a vital role in ensuring sound financial practices, its influence is being questioned. The balancing act between fiscal responsibility and economic growth is a delicate one. The results of this debate will be crucial in shaping the future of the UK’s economic strategy.

📝 Vocabulary

  • Budget: a plan for managing money over a set period
    例文: “The government announced its annual budget today.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • budget plan
    • national budget
    • budget cut
    予算
  • Responsibility: the state of being accountable for something
    例文: “He has the responsibility to oversee the project.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • take responsibility
    • accept responsibility
    • bear responsibility
    責任
  • Forecast: a prediction or estimate of future events
    例文: “The weather forecast predicts rain tomorrow.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • economic forecast
    • weather forecast
    • forecast report
    予測
  • Infrastructure: the basic physical systems of a country
    例文: “The government is investing in infrastructure to improve transportation.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • infrastructure development
    • infrastructure project
    • infrastructure investment
    インフラ
  • Influence: the capacity to have an effect on something
    例文: “Her opinion has a lot of influence on the final decision.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • strong influence
    • positive influence
    • influence on
    影響

✏️ Grammar Point

Conditional Sentences – “If the OBR predicts low economic growth, the government might decide not to invest in infrastructure projects.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
条件節の使用

💡 使用場面

条件がある場合に、その結果を述べるときに使う表現です。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: The OBR was set up before the financial crisis of 2010.
  2. MCQ: What is a criticism of the OBR according to the summary?
    a) It promotes reckless spending.
    b) It acts as a “straitjacket on growth.”
    c) It is not independent.
    d) It does not provide forecasts.
  3. MCQ: What might happen if the OBR forecasts low economic growth?
    a) The government will increase investments.
    b) The government will cut taxes.
    c) The government might not invest in projects.
    d) The government will ignore the forecast.
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) It acts as a “straitjacket on growth.”
  3. c) The government might not invest in projects.

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What is the role of the Office for Budget Responsibility?
  2. Why do some people criticize the OBR?
  3. What does the word “straitjacket” suggest in the context of the OBR?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. It checks the government’s financial plans and forecasts.
  2. They feel it limits the government’s ability to plan for growth.
  3. It suggests limitation or restriction.

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

イギリスの予算発表を前に、予算責任局（OBR）の役割について議論されています。OBRは2010年の金融危機後に設立され、政府の財政計画を独立して分析します。しかし、その慎重な予測が経済成長を抑制する「拘束衣」として批判されています。OBRの役割が今後の経済政策にどのような影響を与えるかが注目されています。特に、経済成長と財政責任のバランスが重要です。日本にとっても、同様の独立機関の役割と影響が議論を呼ぶ可能性があります。

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyx9n5p7v7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

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