（4）So far, reform in India has focused on setting its inventive private sector free from the world's most fearsome bureaucracy. This has unleashed[5] entrepreneurial talent, but more change is needed. Now is the time to tackle the public sector itself. Infrastructure, such as roads and power, and public services, such as education and drinking water, are woefully inadequate and limit growth. Even as the economy has been booming, many public services have worsened. It seems incongruous that somebody can own a mobile phone, yet has to waste hours queuing for drinking water. India's top computer scientists are feted[6] around the world, yet most children in rural areas lack the basic education needed to find more productive work. Around half of all Indian women are illiterate, compared with a ratio of around one in seven in China.
迄今印度改革一直致力于将私有创新企业从这个世界上最可怕的官僚体制中解放出来，企业家们因此得以人尽其才，但其他方面也亟需改革，当务之急就是解决国有部门问题。公路、能源等基础建设和教育、饮水等公共事业资源不足，让人痛心不说，还制约了经济发展。国家经济不断繁荣，而许多公共服务业状况却甚至每况愈下。一个人一边拿着移动电话，一边却要排上好几个钟头的队等水喝，这种状况看上去非常不协调。印度顶尖计算机专家遍布世界，享受着优厚待遇，而印度农村地区的大多数儿童却无法接受基础教育，因而也就无法找到生产力较强的工作。印度妇女约有一半是文盲，而中国仅为1/7。

Singh's songsheet 辛格曲高和寡

India's rulers have two bad excuses for not dealing with those roads, schools and hospitals. The first is theoretical. Many Indian economic commentators say that further structural reforms, though desirable, are not essential to keep the economy growing at 8% or more because of the “demographic dividend”. A fast-growing working population and a falling dependency rate (thanks to a lower birth rate) will ensure more workers, more saving and hence more investment.
印度领导人指出了未及解决道路、学校和医院问题的两个理由，但都不住脚。第一个是理论上的。印度许多经济评论员认为，虽然深化结构改革再好不过，但凭借“人口红利”（demographic dividend），要维持8%或更高的增长速度也是能做到的。有了劳动力人口的快速增长以及人口负担系数（dependency rate）的减小（出生率较低之故），就不愁没有更多的劳动力、更多的储蓄进而有更多的投资。

India's demographic structure is indeed starting to look more like that in East Asia when its growth took off. （5）But this mechanistic view of growth assumes that demography is destiny and that economic policies do not matter. In fact, open markets, education and investment, especially in infrastructure, were the three chief ingredients of East Asia's success. Population growth by itself does not add to prosperity, unless young people are educated and new jobs are created. India needs to reform its absurdly restrictive labour laws which hold back the expansion of manufacturing particularly.
的确在人口结构上，印度的现状与当初处于发展起步阶段的东亚越来越相像。但是，如果如此机械地看待发展问题，就不免会得出人口因素决定一切以及经济政策并不重要的结论。事实上，东亚的成功“三要素”是市场开放、教育开放和投资开放（特别是在基础建设领域）。人口增长了，只有在年轻人接受教育和创造新的就业机会情况下，才会促进经济繁荣。印度应对劳动法加以改革，这些法规的限制规定实在荒唐（在印度，雇员在100人以上的公司要解雇员工必须先得到邦政府的批准。——译者按），对制造业规模扩大的制约作用尤为突出。

The second excuse for doing nothing is practical: there is little room to spend more on schools and hospitals. India already has one of the biggest budget deficits among the large emerging economies (as much as 8% of GDP going by the widest measure). In fact, plenty can be achieved by reform, rather than just spending. Private investors are hesitant about putting money in infrastructure, because the regulators are not independent enough of populist politicians to guarantee a decent return.
印度无所作为的第二个理由则是现实意义上的——无法拿出更多的资金投入到学校和医院。在新兴的大经济体中，印度的预算赤字名列前茅（按照最常用的计算方法，可达GDP的8%）。事实上只要改革，就能获得足够资金，不能一心就想着投入。个人投资者对是否把钱投到基础设施建设中正举棋不定，这是因为监管部门和希望有利可图的人民党人还是有扯不清的瓜葛。

If these things can be tackled, India can indeed match China's growth. （6）Mr Singh remains a reformer, but his government relies on the support of the communist parties and, with today's prosperity, there is no stomach to take them on. The worry is that today's overheating will need to boil over before that mindset changes.
如果这些问题得以解决，印度是可以赶上中国的。辛格一如既往坚持改革，但他的政府却指望共产党的支持，并且经济繁荣如斯，他们也没有闲情逸致去同共产党角力，怕就怕经济过热到“沸腾”的地步时他们的脑子还没有转过弯来。

[NOTES](LONGMAN)

1. (be/go) on the prowl (be/go) prowling 小心而悄悄的移动; 徘徊（觅食）: There was a fox on the prowl near the chicken coop. 有只狐狸在鸡舍附近踅来踅去. * (joc 谑) The soldiers went on the prowl hoping to meet some girls. 这些大兵逛来逛去, 希望碰上花姑娘.
2. peevish adj. easily annoyed (esp by unimportant things); irritable 易怒的（尤指对小事）; 急躁的.
3. bask v. [I, Ipr] ~ (in sth) sit or lie enjoying warmth 坐著或躺著取暖: basking in the sunshine, by the fire, on the beach 在阳光下、火炉旁、海滩上取暖 * (fig 比喻) basking in sb's favour, approval, etc 受某人的恩惠、嘉许等.
4. dismantle v. 1 take (sth) to pieces 将（某物）拆开; 拆除（某物）: dismantle a faulty motor, machine, etc (for repairs) 把有毛病的发动机、 机器等拆开（以便修理） * dismantle an exhibition, a theatrical set, etc 把所有展品、 戏剧布景等拆除 * (fig 比喻) We should dismantle our inefficient tax system. 我们这个效益很差的税收制度应该废除. 2 remove fittings and furnishings from (a building or ship) 拆除（建筑物或船只）的装备.
5. unleash v. [Tn, Tn.pr] ~ sth (against/on sb/sth) (a) set sth free from a leash or restraint 解开带子或去掉限制以放开（某事物）: unleash the guard dogs 解开带子放出警卫犬. (b) (fig 比喻) set sth free from control; release sth in a powerful attack (on sb/sth) 使某物不受控制; 放出某物对（某人[某物]）进行强有力的攻击: unleash the forces of nuclear power 发出核动力的攻击力 * He unleashed a torrent of abuse againstthe unfortunate shop assistant. 他对那倒霉的店员骂不绝口.
6. fete v. [Tn esp passive 尤用於被动语态] honour or entertain (sb) in a special way 特别款待或招待（某人）: The queen was feted wherever she went. 女王不论走到哪里都受到盛情款待.