本文選自《經濟學人》2019年8月3日刊出的一篇文章，原英文標題為The dash from cash。本文圍繞「現金支付向數字支付的轉變」進行討論，文章指出，該轉變為大勢所趨，但數字支付利弊兼具，因此政府應採取措施，以完成現金支付向數字支付的平穩過渡。
【行文脈絡】提出話題（第一段）——闡釋話題（第二段）——分析原因（第三段）——分析利弊（第四至五段）——提出建議（第六至八段）
ⅠFor the past 3,000 years, when people thought of money they thought of cash. From buying food to settling bills, day-to-day dealings involved creased paper or clinking coins. Over the past decade, however, digital payments have taken off.
ⅡCountries are eliminating cash at varying speeds. But the direction of travel is clear, and in some cases the journey is nearly complete. In Sweden the number of retail cash transactions per person has fallen by 80% in the past ten years. Cash accounts for just 6% of purchases by value in Norway. Outside the rich world, cash is still king. But even there its dominance is being eroded.
ⅢCash is dying out because of two forces. One is demand — younger consumers want payment systems that plug seamlessly into their digital lives. But equally important is that suppliers such as banks and tech firms and telecoms companies are developing fast, easy-to-use payment technologies from which they can pull data and fees. There is a high cost to running the infrastructure behind the cash economy—ATMs, vans carrying notes, tellers who accept coins.
ⅣIn the main the prospect of a cashless economy is excellent news. Cash is inefficient. In rich countries, minting, sorting, storing and distributing it is estimated to cost about 0.5% of GDP. But that does not begin to count the gains. When payments dematerialise, people and shops are less vulnerable to theft. Governments can keep closer tabs on fraud or tax evasion. Digitalisation vastly expands the playground of small businesses and sole traders by enabling them to sell beyond their borders. It also creates a credit history, helping consumers borrow.
ⅤYet set against these benefits are a bundle of worries. Electronic payment systems may be vulnerable to technical failures, power blackouts and cyber-attacks. In a cashless economy the poor, the elderly and country folk may be left behind. And replacing cash, an anonymous payment method, with a digital system could let private titans exploit their personal data.
ⅥThese problems have three remedies. First, governments need to ensure that central banks』 monopoly over coins and notes is not replaced by private monopolies over digital money. They should urge banks to offer cheap, instant, bank-to-bank digital transfers between deposit accounts, as in Sweden and the Netherlands.
ⅦSecond, governments should maintain banks』 obligation to keep customer information private, so that the payment system remains anonymous. Digital firms that use this system to offer services should be free to monetise transaction data, through, for example, advertising, so long as their business model is made explicit to users.
ⅧLast, the phase-out of cash should be gradual. For a period of ten years, banks should be obliged to accept and distribute cash in populated areas. This will buy governments time to help the poor open bank accounts, educate the elderly and beef up internet access in rural areas. The rush towards digital money is the result of spontaneous demand and innovation. To pocket all the rewards, governments need to prepare for the day when creased bank notes change hands for the last time.
1.settle [ˈsetl] v. 結帳
2.day-to-day [ˈdeɪtəˈdeɪ] adj. 每天的；日常的
3.dealing [ˈdi:lɪŋ] n. 買賣；交易
4.*crease [kri:s] v. 弄皺；（使）起褶子
5.*clink [klɪŋk] v. （使）叮噹作響
6.payment [ˈpeɪmənt] n. 付款；付款額
7.take off （觀念、產品等）迅速流行
8.eliminate [ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt] v. 淘汰
9.complete [kəmˈpli:t] adj. 完成；結束
10.retail [ˈri:teɪl] n. 零售
11.transaction [trænˈzækʃn] n. （一筆）交易
12.account for （數量上、比例上）佔
13.purchase [ˈpɜ:tʃəs] n. 所購之物
14.value [ˈvælju:] n. （商品）價值
15.dominance ['dɒmɪnəns] n. 支配地位；主導權
16.erode [ɪˈrəʊd] v. 削弱
17.die out 滅絕；消失
18.force [fɔ:s] n. 力量大的人（或事物）
19.plug [plʌg] v. 封堵
plug into 把（插頭）插進（插座）
20.seamlessly ['si:mlisli] adv. 無縫地；銜接完美地
21.supplier [səˈplaɪə(r)] n. 供應商
22.telecom ['telɪkɒm] n. 電信（telecommunication的簡寫）
23.pull [pʊl] v. 拿出；抽出
24.infrastructure [ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)] n. （國家或機構的）基礎設施
25.*van [væn] n. （廂式）中小型貨車
26.teller [ˈtelə(r)] n. 提款機
27.in the main 大體上；基本上
28.*mint [mɪnt] v. 鑄（幣）
29.distribute [dɪˈstrɪbju:t] v. 分送
30.count [kaʊnt] v. 把...算入；包括
31.gain [geɪn] n. 利益
32.dematerialise [di:mə'tɪərɪəlaɪz] v. （使）喪失物質形態
33.vulnerable [ˈvʌlnərəbl] adj. 易受傷害的
34.keep close tab on sb/sth 監視；密切注視
35.fraud [frɔ:d] n. 欺騙罪
36.evasion [ɪˈveɪʒn] n. 規避
37.vastly [ˈvɑ:stli] adv. 很大程度上；極大地
38.sole [səʊl] adj. （控制權或所有權）唯一的；獨佔的
39.set sth against sth 權衡利弊（或優缺點）
40.bundle [ˈbʌndl] n. 捆；束；包
a bundle of 大量；廣泛
41.blackout [ˈblækaʊt] n. 斷電；停電
42.leave behind 把...拋在後面；超過
43.anonymous [əˈnɒnɪməs] adj. 不記名的；不具名的
44.*titan [ˈtaɪtn] n. 巨人
45.exploit [ɪkˈsplɔɪt] v. 利用（...為自己謀利）
46.remedy [ˈremədi] n. 改進措施
47.monopoly [məˈnɒpəli] n. 專營服務；壟斷
48.urge [ɜ:dʒ] v. 敦促
49.transfer [trænsˈfɜ:(r)] n. 轉帳
50.deposit [dɪˈpɒzɪt] n. 存款
51.maintain [meɪnˈteɪn] v. 維持；保持
52.obligation [ˌɒblɪˈgeɪʃn] n. 義務；責任
53.monetise ['mʌnɪtaɪz] v. （通過網絡訪客）賺錢
54.so long as 只要
55.explicit [ɪkˈsplɪsɪt] adj. 坦誠的；毫不隱晦的
56.phase [feɪz] v. 分階段進行；逐步做
phase-out 逐步廢除
57.oblige [əˈblaɪdʒ] v. （形勢、規定或法律）強迫；迫使
58.populate [ˈpɒpjuleɪt] v. 居住於
59.buy [baɪ] v. （爭取或付出一定代價以）獲得；贏得
60.beef [bi:f] v. 不斷抱怨
beef up 加強；提高
61.spontaneous [spɒnˈteɪniəs] adj. 自發的；非籌劃安排的
62.pocket [ˈpɒkɪt] v. 贏得；獲得
63.change hands 換主人；轉手
（標星號為超綱詞彙）ⅠFor the past 3,000 years, when people thought of money they thought of cash. From buying food to settling bills, day-to-day dealings involved creased paper or clinking coins. Over the past decade, however, digital payments have taken off.
【翻譯】：在過去三千年中，人們想到錢便想到了現金。從買食物到付帳單，日常交易要用皺巴巴的紙幣或叮噹作響的硬幣。然而，過去十年間，數字支付迅速流行起來。
【點評】：首段昔今對比，指出現金支付方式已向數字支付方式轉變。
主要邏輯銜接：首句介紹昔日情形，指出現金支付的長期主導地位。第二句論證首句，舉例說明過去三千年中現金支付在日常生活方方面面的主導地位（From...to...）。第三句轉折，介紹新現象——近十多年來數字支付興起。
核心關鍵詞：①digital payments have taken off（數字支付迅速流行起來）。
ⅡCountries are eliminating cash at varying speeds. But the direction of travel is clear, and in some cases the journey is nearly complete. In Sweden the number of retail cash transactions per person has fallen by 80% in the past ten years. Cash accounts for just 6% of purchases by value in Norway. Outside the rich world, cash is still king. But even there its dominance is being eroded.
【翻譯】：多個國家正在以不同的速度淘汰現金。但是發展的方向很明了，而且某些國家此過程已接近完成。過去十年中，瑞典零售業人均現金交易量下降了百分之八十。挪威現金交易額在總交易額中僅佔百分之六。在發達國家以外，現金依然是王道。但即使在這些地區，現金的主導地位也在減弱。
【點評】：第二段從發達國家與非發達國家兩方面，綜合說明數字支付在世界範圍內興起。
主要邏輯銜接：首句讓步，承認不同國家處於支付方式轉變的不同階段。第二句轉折，前半句指出現金支付向數字支付轉變是世界各國的共同趨勢，後半句既是遞進，亦論證前半句，以某些國家支付轉變幾近完成說明該轉變的樂觀前景。第三、四句以瑞典與挪威為例論證第二句後半句，說明數字支付在某些發達國家接近完成。第五、六句以「讓步→轉折（still king..But even there...）」結構指出，非發達國家中數字支付已動搖現金支付的主導地位，暗示非發達國家數字支付發展的積極態勢。
核心關鍵詞：①the direction of travel is clear（發展的方向很明了）。
ⅢCash is dying out because of two forces. One is demand — younger consumers want payment systems that plug seamlessly into their digital lives. But equally important is that suppliers such as banks and tech firms and telecoms companies are developing fast, easy-to-use payment technologies from which they can pull data and fees. There is a high cost to running the infrastructure behind the cash economy—ATMs, vans carrying notes, tellers who accept coins.
【長難句分析】
But equally important is that suppliers such as banks and tech firms and telecoms companies are developing fast, easy-to-use payment technologies from which they can pull data and fees.
分析：本句為倒裝結構，句子主幹為「主系表」結構。equally important為表語，位於句首起強調作用，is為系動詞，that suppliers...fees為主語從句。that引導的主語從句主幹為「suppliers are developing payment technologies」，such as...companies舉例說明suppliers所指企業類型，from which...fees為定語從句，修飾technologies。
【翻譯】：逐漸淘汰現金是因為兩股力量的影響。一種是需求——更年輕的消費者想擁有和其數字生活無縫銜接的支付系統。但同樣重要的是，諸如銀行、科技公司與電信公司等供應商正在開發便捷、易於使用的支付技術，這些企業不僅能從中獲取服務費用，還能獲取數據。現金經濟體系的基礎設施——自動提款機、運鈔車、接受硬幣的提款機——運行成本高昂。
【點評】：第三段從需求與供應兩方面介紹數字支付逐漸取代現金支付的原因。
主要邏輯銜接：首句概括指出現金支付的消亡源於兩方面原因。第二句從用戶角度指出數字支付方式的現實需要：年輕的消費者慣於使用電子設備，希望有一種與此適應的數字支付方式。第三句從供應商角度指出數字支付興起的現實基礎：為了進一步盈利，供應商在開發便捷的數字支付技術；定語從句「from which...fees」指出，供應商此舉一舉兩得，不僅能獲取服務費用，而且能獲取用戶數據。第四句指出供應商開發數字支付技術的另一原因：現行現金支付體系運行成本高昂。
核心關鍵詞：①because of two forces（是因為兩股力量的影響）。
ⅣIn the main the prospect of a cashless economy is excellent news. Cash is inefficient. In rich countries, minting, sorting, storing and distributing it is estimated to cost about 0.5% of GDP. But that does not begin to count the gains. When payments dematerialise, people and shops are less vulnerable to theft. Governments can keep closer tabs on fraud or tax evasion. Digitalisation vastly expands the playground of small businesses and sole traders by enabling them to sell beyond their borders. It also creates a credit history, helping consumers borrow.
【翻譯】：大體上，將要實現無現金經濟是個好消息。現金使用效率低下。在發達國家，現金的鑄造、分類、存放與分送估計約花費國內生產總值的百分之零點五。但這尚未考慮無現金經濟的益處。若支付不再使用現金，人們和商店遭遇偷竊的風險會降低。政府也能夠更密切地監視欺詐行為或避稅行為。數位化能夠使小企業與個體戶的銷售不受地理範圍限制，極大地擴大其生意範圍。數位化也可以創建信用記錄，有利於消費者進行借貸。
【點評】：第四段從正、反兩方面論證數字支付方式的優勢。
主要邏輯銜接：首句概括指出，數字支付總體上有益於社會發展。第二、三句反面論證，通過介紹現金支付的缺陷「效率低、成本高」，反襯數字支付的優勢：效率高、成本低。第四句轉折，承上啟下，引出下文數字支付的其他優勢。第五句至第八句正面論證，逐句介紹數字支付的其他優勢：更安全、有利於國家監督、有利於擴大商戶生意範圍、有利於用戶借貸。
核心關鍵詞：①the prospect of a cashless economy is excellent news（將要實現無現金經濟是個好消息）。
ⅤYet set against these benefits are a bundle of worries. Electronic payment systems may be vulnerable to technical failures, power blackouts and cyber-attacks. In a cashless economy the poor, the elderly and country folk may be left behind. And replacing cash, an anonymous payment method, with a digital system could let private titans exploit their personal data.
【翻譯】：然而權衡利弊，在上述優勢之外，數字支付也具有很多問題。電子支付系統可能易遭遇技術故障、斷電與網絡攻擊問題。在無現金經濟中，窮人、老年人與鄉村百姓可能被甩在後面。並且以數字支付體系取代匿名的現金支付可能導致私營巨頭利用客戶的私人數據謀利。
【點評】：第五段介紹數字支付方式的弊端。
主要邏輯銜接：首句轉折，通過說明數字支付利弊兼具，客觀指出數字支付存在問題。第二句至第四句分述數字支付的問題。第二句指出，數字支付依賴數字設備及電力資源，因此易受技術問題影響。第三句指出數字支付可能加劇社會不公：使窮人、老人、鄉村人口這些弱勢群體更加落後。第四句回指第三段第三句，指出數字支付存在隱私風險：用戶的私人數據易受私營巨頭利用。
核心關鍵詞：①a bundle of worries（很多問題）。
ⅥThese problems have three remedies. First, governments need to ensure that central banks』 monopoly over coins and notes is not replaced by private monopolies over digital money. They should urge banks to offer cheap, instant, bank-to-bank digital transfers between deposit accounts, as in Sweden and the Netherlands.
【翻譯】：這些問題可以通過三種措施解決。首先，政府須確保中央銀行對現金的壟斷不被私營企業對數字貨幣的壟斷取代。政府應敦促銀行為存款帳戶提供低廉、即時的跨行數字轉帳服務，如瑞典與荷蘭實施的那樣。
【點評】：第六段概括指出可以採取三種措施解決數字支付方式存在的問題，並介紹措施之一——確保中央銀行在支付體系中的主導地位。
主要邏輯銜接：首句概括指出，數字支付的問題可以通過三種措施解決。第二句提出措施之一——政府須確保中央銀行在支付體系中的主導地位，從根源上避免私營巨頭壟斷支付體系、威脅用戶隱私，回指第五段第四句。第三句遞進，提出具體建議：敦促銀行提供具有競爭性的數字轉帳服務。
核心關鍵詞：①three remedies（通過三種措施解決）；②ensure that central banks』 monopoly over coins and notes is not replaced（確保中央銀行對現金的壟斷不被...取代）。
ⅦSecond, governments should maintain banks』 obligation to keep customer information private, so that the payment system remains anonymous. Digital firms that use this system to offer services should be free to monetise transaction data, through, for example, advertising, so long as their business model is made explicit to users.
【長難句分析】
Digital firms that use this system to offer services should be free to monetise transaction data, through, for example, advertising, so long as their business model is made explicit to users.
分析：本句主幹為Digital firms should be free to monetise transactions data。that use this system to offer services為定語從句，修飾firms；through, for example, advertising為插入語，舉例說明數字公司利用交易數據謀利的方式，for example為插入語中的插入語；so long as...users為條件狀語從句，說明主句發生的條件。
【翻譯】：其次，政府應要求銀行繼續履行為客戶信息保密的義務，這樣一來數字支付體系保持了支付的匿名性。使用此體系提供服務的數字公司應有利用交易數據獲利的自由，比如通過廣告，只要將其商業模式對用戶坦誠相告。
【點評】：第七段介紹措施之二——確保數字支付體系的匿名性。
主要邏輯銜接：首句提出措施之二——政府須要求銀行確保數字支付體系的匿名性，避免影響用戶隱私，回指第五段第四句。第二句介紹匿名支付體系下，對數字服務公司的隱私要求：可以利用用戶數據謀利，但須對用戶公開其商業模式，最大限度地尊重用戶私人信息。
核心關鍵詞：①so that the payment system remains anonymous（這樣一來數字支付體系保持了支付的匿名性）。
ⅧLast, the phase-out of cash should be gradual. For a period of ten years, banks should be obliged to accept and distribute cash in populated areas. This will buy governments time to help the poor open bank accounts, educate the elderly and beef up internet access in rural areas. The rush towards digital money is the result of spontaneous demand and innovation. To pocket all the rewards, governments need to prepare for the day when creased bank notes change hands for the last time.
【翻譯】：最後，淘汰紙幣應逐步進行。在未來的十年內，銀行有義務在有人居住的區域內接收與分發現金。這會為政府贏得幫助窮人開通銀行帳戶、幫助老人了解數字支付與在農村地區增設網絡渠道的時間。向數字貨幣的迅速發展是自然需求與自主創新的結果。若要獲得所有的收益，政府需做好準備，迎接最後一次使用皺巴巴的鈔票進行交易的那天。
【點評】：第八段介紹措施之三——逐步進行支付方式轉換。
主要邏輯銜接：首句提出措施之三——逐步進行支付轉變。第二句遞進，介紹具體做法：在未來十年中，繼續維持現金的流通。第三句介紹此舉的直接原因，buy governments time to...似為結果，實為原因，指出逐步轉變支付方式有利於幫助落後群體適應支付變化，防止社會差距加大，回指第五段第三句。第四句指出此舉的根本原因：支付轉變須順勢而為，不可強制進行，無論是用戶支付方式轉變，還是供應商進行技術創新，都應出於自然需求。第五句總結，一方面指出出於現實利益與未來發展的考慮，政府須為支付轉變做好準備，另一方面重申數字支付終將取代現金支付。
核心關鍵詞：①the phase-out of cash should be gradual（淘汰紙幣應逐步進行）。
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